• Infrastructure

'Windhoekers delay projects themselves'

• 3 Days Ago - 2025-07-09 10:07:00

Windhoek’s delay in completing certain projects is due to some residents refusing to remove their structures, thereby obstructing road construction and expansion.
This was according to the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Sankwasa James Sankwasa, during a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday for the upgrading of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Drive in the capital.
He said residents are calling for development, funds are being allocated, and contractors are being appointed – yet projects remain unfinished because people are refusing to vacate affected areas.
“In the case of the Windhoek municipality, roads are being built. But now we face another problem – a lack of patriotism among some residents. It is unpatriotic and causes delays in national projects. No one should force a situation where we must call in the police to remove or relocate people,” Sankwasa said.
He explained that the municipality had been instructed to relocate affected individuals, but some resisted – not because they lacked alternative accommodation, but because, as they claimed, “I do my business here.”
“They’ve turned it into a personal economic issue, and in doing so, they are hindering development and progress,” he said.
The minister urged Windhoek residents to prioritise national interests over personal ones when development projects are introduced for the greater benefit of the city and the country.
“As much as you may run a business from a shack, that business benefits you as an individual – not the nation and not all the city’s residents.”
Waste of public funds
Sankwasa also raised concern over the mismanagement of public funds, pointing to money returned to state coffers despite pressing development needs.
“If you look at the accountability report submitted by the Ministry of Finance at the start of each financial year, large sums are returned unused by ministries and institutions. Then one wonders, why did we request this money in the first place?”
He stressed that Namibia is not necessarily a poor country, but rather one where financial resources are often mismanaged.
“In my few months in office and in meetings with local authorities and regional councils, I’ve observed that Namibia does not lack financial resources. The issue lies in how those resources are used.”
He described bureaucracy as a major obstacle to national development. “Bureaucracy is one of our greatest enemies in developing this country.”
He also criticised the delayed payment of contractors, blaming unnecessary administrative red tape.
“Often, it’s just bureaucracy created by individuals who are supposed to process those payments and enable work to proceed. People want to feel important and must be begged before they act – yet these are the same individuals who, during job interviews, claimed to be experienced and hardworking. But once employed, there’s no sign of that ‘ten years of experience’ they listed,” he remarked.
“To everyone responsible for processing contractor payments – whether in the Windhoek Municipality, a ministry or elsewhere in the public service – my appeal is that we must meet the expectations of our citizens and voters.”
Development
“Five years ago, we promised development. We said if we were elected, we would deliver. Now that development is here, we must not become the very obstacles that prevent it. We must commit to timely service delivery,” said Sankwasa.
He emphasised that road construction is not just about vehicles. “It’s about improving mobility and connectivity for all citizens. But what I’ve noticed in the design of our roads, particularly in residential areas, is that we consistently neglect one important group – people with physical disabilities. How are they meant to travel? How do they use their wheelchairs on our roads? We’re not creating space for them.”
He called for inclusive road and building designs that consider the needs of people who use wheelchairs or walk with crutches.
“They need dedicated spaces. And if they cannot be accommodated on main roads, let’s build safe, alternative routes so that they too can feel part of Namibia and enjoy the same freedom and independence as everyone else,” he said.