Sankwasa’s visit to Okahandja 'of no use'
Residents of Okahandja have expressed disappointment following the visit of the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, describing his much-publicised stopover as “a show with no real purpose.”The minister met with the town council behind closed doors before addressing a community gathering. However, residents say the meeting failed to tackle Okahandja’s deepening state of decay - from uncollected rubbish and deteriorating infrastructure to a non-functional coalition at the helm of the town’s leadership.
“As much as I applaud Minister Sankwasa’s so-called radical approach, I have to admit that his rants are politically motivated,” said Shatyohamba Haihambo. “When he visits opposition-run towns like Walvis Bay or Windhoek, he’s loud about corruption and dirt. But when he comes here, where rubbish piles up on every street corner, he suddenly goes quiet.”
He added that Sankwasa’s visit “felt like political theatre,” claiming the minister turned a blind eye to the real issues. “The councillors might have played it well behind closed doors with the minister, because how can he see Windhoek’s dirt but not Okahandja’s, which is right in front of their eyes?” said an elderly resident who spoke on condition of anonymity.
'Non-functioning coalition'
“Okahandja is not controlled by Swapo. Yes, the mayor is from Swapo, but that does not mean Swapo is in charge. The reason we are in this mess is because of a non-functioning coalition. Okahandja was never like this until the opposition took power. Now Swapo is cleaning up the mess,” wrote Erastus Ekandjo in a Facebook comment.
Community activist Paulus Heindere urged Sankwasa to show consistent leadership. “A leader, as he is, will not escape doing the right thing,” Heindere said. “If he truly stands for accountability, he must speak up where his own party’s influence is felt, not just where it is convenient.”
During his visit on 6 October, Sankwasa insisted that his office would not be used for political gain. “I’m here to serve the Namibian people appropriately. Like I said, when councillors in the council operate to serve their own political party or private companies, then they have me to contend with,” the minister said.
Adding to the community’s frustrations is the lack of youth empowerment in the area.
The National Youth Service (NYS), designed to equip young Namibians with discipline, vocational skills, and opportunities for service in the security sector, remains out of reach for many young people in Okahandja.
“It’s time our leaders take responsibility,” said one young resident. “We cannot keep watching our town and our future waste away while leaders pretend everything is fine.”
Sankwasa promised to return, stating, “I am here for the people. If there is a need for me to come back, I will come back,” during his meeting with residents on 6 October.
For now, residents say the minister’s visit did little to restore confidence. As they continue to hope for a better Okahandja, their town remains burdened by sewage leaks and piles of rubbish on nearly every corner. - [email protected]