Sankwasa calls for people-centred smart cities

Urban and rural development minister Sankwasa James Sankwasa has called for urgent reforms in land delivery, housing development and service provision, warning that Namibia cannot afford delays.

In a speech read on his behalf by deputy minister Evelyn ǃNawases-Taeyele at the official opening of the 22nd annual conference of the Namibian Association of Local Authority Officials (Nalao) in Ongwediva recently, Sankwasa said local authorities must embrace innovation and accountability to meet growing demands for housing, infrastructure and basic services.

The three-day conference was held under the theme 'Inspiring People-Centred Smart Cities for Inclusive and Sustainable Urbanisation'.

Sankwasa stressed that local authorities remain central to service delivery and act as the “heartbeat” of development, bridging national policy and the everyday needs of citizens.

“We cannot afford delays in land surveying, township establishment or the upgrading of informal settlements. Our people are eagerly waiting,” he said.

He added that the concept of smart cities should go beyond technology and prioritise improving people’s lives.

“A city is not smart because it has high-speed internet, but because it uses its resources to solve the lived realities of its people. If a system does not help a grandmother in an informal settlement access clean water, then we have failed,” he said.

Sankwasa highlighted ageing sewer and sanitation infrastructure as a major obstacle to development, calling for stronger collaboration between his ministry and local authorities, as well as the establishment of sustainable funding mechanisms.

Make tax dollars count

He also warned against poor governance, saying wasteful expenditure and irregular procurement directly undermine development.

“Every dollar lost to inefficiency is a dollar taken away from housing projects or water infrastructure,” he said, urging officials to uphold transparency and accountability.

Sankwasa further called for improved working relationships between political leaders and administrative staff, stressing that cooperation is essential for effective governance and service delivery.

“Councillors and municipal staff must work in harmony. Staff members must stop sabotaging politicians because of political differences,” he said.

He also raised concern over divisions among councillors, saying infighting continues to hinder progress in some local authorities.

Turning to professionals and chief executive officers, Sankwasa described them as “gatekeepers of local democracy” and urged them to provide objective, evidence-based advice to guide decision-making.

“The growing urban population calls for inclusive development that benefits all Namibians, regardless of socio-economic status,” he said.

Take the lead

Ongwediva mayor Naemi Amuthenu emphasised the importance of adopting smart city innovations that are inclusive and sustainable, urging local authorities to lead in this direction.

Nalao president Moses Matyayi, meanwhile, raised alarm over political interference, weak governance and mounting urban pressures, warning that these challenges threaten service delivery and investor confidence in Namibia’s towns and cities.

Matyayi warned that urbanisation is outpacing planning, with informal settlements now housing more than 40% of residents in some towns.

“Cities are engines of growth, yet they are also sites of deep inequality and service delivery pressure,” he said.