Ondangwa council ferries Sankwasa to Windhoek after missed flight

The Ondangwa Town Council has refused to disclose the costs of an emergency road trip arranged for urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa after he missed his scheduled flight to Windhoek last Thursday.

The incident has triggered questions about accountability and the use of local authority resources, particularly as Sankwasa has maintained a hardline stance on financial prudence and accountability in local authorities – including demands for reimbursements where abuse is perceived.

The logistical scramble began on Thursday evening when Sankwasa, who was presiding over a week-long induction workshop for local authority and regional councillors in Ondangwa, failed to arrive at Andimba Toivo ya Toivo Airport in time for his 18:00 flight to Windhoek.

The minister told Namibian Sun that he misjudged the timing due to the airport’s proximity.

“I thought since I was in Ondangwa and the airport is right here, I would just rush there at the last minute,” he said.

By the time he arrived, the check-in counter had already closed. His official driver had already returned earlier to Windhoek, leaving the minister behind as he was scheduled to fly back.

With a crucial budget presentation scheduled for Friday morning – already postponed from the previous week – Sankwasa requested transport assistance from the town council.

The council provided a Toyota Fortuner from the mayor’s office, driven overnight to Windhoek by a staff member reportedly employed as a local economic development officer.

Costs undisclosed

While Sankwasa managed to attend the presentation, questions remain over the expense of the trip.

Questions relating to fuel expenditure for the approximately 700-kilometre journey and subsistence and travel (S&T) allowances paid to the council employee remain unanswered.

A one-way flight ticket between Ondangwa and Windhoek typically costs between N$3 000 and N$5 000.

Ondangwa town council CEO Ismael Namgongo declined to provide details about the expenditure.

“Talk to the minister to inform you [of] his transportation arrangements. I don’t do council administration in the newspapers,” he said.

Dispute over forfeited ticket

Sankwasa initially maintained that the missed flight did not result in financial loss, saying the ticket could still be used.

“The money is not lost as the ticket can be used another time,” he said.

However, FlyNamibia insiders indicated that standard airline policy treats missed flights as “no-shows”, meaning tickets are generally forfeited and passengers must purchase a new fare.

The apparent contradiction has fuelled criticism that public funds may have been unnecessarily spent.

Questions over use of council resources

Critics have raised concerns about the appropriateness of a local authority deploying its resources to resolve what appears to have been a scheduling error.

As minister responsible for overseeing local authorities, Sankwasa is tasked with promoting sound financial management and accountability within municipalities and regional councils.

The minister has described the incident as an “unintentional mistake”, maintaining that the council was assisting him in carrying out national duties.

He also initially dismissed the issue as a “non-story”, suggesting that criticism was politically motivated.

The council has not confirmed whether the LED officer was formally authorised to transport the minister, nor whether the urban and rural development ministry will reimburse the municipality for fuel costs, vehicle wear and tear and travel allowances.

Sankwasa acknowledged that this was not the first time he had been transported by the council employee.