Sankwasa slams Windhoek residents for delaying road projects
'Namibia does not necessarily lack financial resources'
Sankwasa said the city often faces project delays not because of funding or planning failures but because of residents who refuse to vacate areas earmarked for development.
Urban and Rural Development Minister Sankwasa James Sankwasa has criticised Windhoek residents who refuse to move their structures to make way for road upgrades, calling it unpatriotic and a major obstacle to development.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the upgrading of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Avenue in Windhoek on Monday, Sankwasa said the city often faces project delays not because of funding or planning failures but because of residents who refuse to vacate areas earmarked for development.
“In the case of the Windhoek Municipality, yes, roads are being constructed. But we face another problem: a lack of patriotism among some citizens,” he said.
Personal Gain Over Progress
He argued that while people demand development, secure funding, and see contractors appointed, projects stall when residents refuse to move. “That is a form of unpatriotic, delaying national projects. No one should create a situation where we have to call the police to remove or relocate people,” he said.
Sankwasa pointed out that many who resist relocation do so for personal economic reasons, turning national projects into private battles. “They say: ‘I’m doing business here.’ They turn this into a personal economic matter. And by doing that, they hamper development and progress,” he said, appealing for residents to put the broader national interest above personal gain.
“As much as you may run a business from a shack, that business benefits you as an individual – not the nation, not all the town’s residents,” he added.
Wasted Public Funds
The minister also raised concerns about how public funds are used, criticising government departments and institutions that fail to spend their budgets and then return unused money to the state coffers. “If you look at the accountability report at the beginning of each financial year and see how much money is returned unused, you are left wondering: why did we request this money in the first place?” he asked.
Sankwasa argued that Namibia is not necessarily poor but suffers from poor management of resources. “What I have observed in the few months since I’ve been in office is that Namibia does not necessarily lack financial resources,” he said.
Bureaucracy Stalls Payments
He identified bureaucracy as a key enemy of development, citing delayed contractor payments as a prime example. “Often, it’s nothing more than bureaucracy created by individuals who want to show they are important and must be begged before they act,” he said.
He appealed to public servants, ministries, and local authorities to honour their commitments to voters. “Five years ago, we promised development. Now that development is here, we must not become the very obstacles standing in its way. We must reflect and commit to timely service delivery,” he urged.
Sankwasa also called for inclusive road design, criticising the lack of consideration for people with disabilities. “We are not creating space for them. It is time our road designs consider the needs of those who use wheelchairs, walking sticks, or crutches. They must have dedicated spaces so they can enjoy the freedom and independence that everyone else does,” he said.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the upgrading of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Avenue in Windhoek on Monday, Sankwasa said the city often faces project delays not because of funding or planning failures but because of residents who refuse to vacate areas earmarked for development.
“In the case of the Windhoek Municipality, yes, roads are being constructed. But we face another problem: a lack of patriotism among some citizens,” he said.
Personal Gain Over Progress
He argued that while people demand development, secure funding, and see contractors appointed, projects stall when residents refuse to move. “That is a form of unpatriotic, delaying national projects. No one should create a situation where we have to call the police to remove or relocate people,” he said.
Sankwasa pointed out that many who resist relocation do so for personal economic reasons, turning national projects into private battles. “They say: ‘I’m doing business here.’ They turn this into a personal economic matter. And by doing that, they hamper development and progress,” he said, appealing for residents to put the broader national interest above personal gain.
“As much as you may run a business from a shack, that business benefits you as an individual – not the nation, not all the town’s residents,” he added.
Wasted Public Funds
The minister also raised concerns about how public funds are used, criticising government departments and institutions that fail to spend their budgets and then return unused money to the state coffers. “If you look at the accountability report at the beginning of each financial year and see how much money is returned unused, you are left wondering: why did we request this money in the first place?” he asked.
Sankwasa argued that Namibia is not necessarily poor but suffers from poor management of resources. “What I have observed in the few months since I’ve been in office is that Namibia does not necessarily lack financial resources,” he said.
Bureaucracy Stalls Payments
He identified bureaucracy as a key enemy of development, citing delayed contractor payments as a prime example. “Often, it’s nothing more than bureaucracy created by individuals who want to show they are important and must be begged before they act,” he said.
He appealed to public servants, ministries, and local authorities to honour their commitments to voters. “Five years ago, we promised development. Now that development is here, we must not become the very obstacles standing in its way. We must reflect and commit to timely service delivery,” he urged.
Sankwasa also called for inclusive road design, criticising the lack of consideration for people with disabilities. “We are not creating space for them. It is time our road designs consider the needs of those who use wheelchairs, walking sticks, or crutches. They must have dedicated spaces so they can enjoy the freedom and independence that everyone else does,” he said.
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