Rural and urban development minister James Sankwasa says he does not need to make any appointments to visit regional constituencies and local authorities.
He says announcing his visits in advance would alert councillors, leading to possible cover ups of wrongdoing.
Sankwasa was responding to Aminius constituency councillor Peter Kazongominja’s criticism of the minister’s recent unannounced visits.
“We do not report to ministers. We report to the people who voted for us. Ministers cannot just come to our constituencies without letting us know and expect us to have meetings. Such behaviour is undermining our authority. They must familiarise themselves with how we, constituency councillors, operate. We won’t be bossed by them,” Kazongominja’s said during the National Council session last week.
Sankwasa told The Namibian over the weekend that he was appointed to deliver services to the masses which he intends to fulfil.
He said the same applies to regional constituency councillors, who are supposed to provide housing, electrification, sanitation, water and roads.
He said his visits aim to ensure transparency and that elected councillors provide services.
Sankwasa said he only visits such constituencies when issues have been reported.
The minister commenced his oversight visits in the Zambezi region earlier this month, including to the Bukalo Village Council and the Katima Mulilo Town Council, with visits to other regions expected.
Sankwasa said he started his visit in his home region to avoid accusations of being biassed or protecting his region.
He said he is going to treat everyone the same.
NOT AFRAID
“I am not afraid or ashamed for people to dislike me. If people dislike me for doing the right thing, I appreciate it. Even Jesus was never loved for doing the right thing,” said Sankwasa.
He pointed out an instance where a council allegedly paid subsistence and travel to an official every year, describing it as unlawful.
He also questioned a council for allowing the drilling of a borehole costing more than N$300 000 where no installation has taken place to date.
“Is this what citizens of this country should expect? If a council, without drilling a hole there, just connects to the main water pipeline, wants to put up four water reservoirs of 10 000 metres/litres, for N$2 million. Is that correct?” he asked.
FEAR AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Sankwasa stated that if councillors are doing things the right way, then there is no need to be afraid, arguing that only those interested in appointments should fear being unmasked.
He said the same laws that are supposed to protect them will be the same laws that will judge their misconducts, adding that the minister is simply an implementer of such governing laws.
“I am the overseer of the councillors. I supervise them, that is my job,” Sankwasa stated.
Sankwasa informed this publication that he is currently studying a list of documents which allegedly details unlawful practices of which he could not divulge information on at this stage. One of these includes a case in which councillors have allegedly reduced the price of land to N$5 per square metre, Sankwasa said.
“They get this land and allocate it to themselves, then they go sell it to the general public,” he said.
He alleged that a plot that could have cost N$1 500 to N$3 000 is now being sold for N$600 000.
In another case, documents point to a councillor’s daughter allegedly owning about 15 plots, raising questions on how this transpired.
This, he said, is the reality on the ground, which supports his decision to not announce his visits to councils for fear of evidence being hidden.
He said councillors promise to bring development when elected, thus they must keep their promises and not give themselves tenders and land.
SWAPO NOT TO BE BLAMED
Sankwasa claimed that since 1990, almost every Namibian has expressed satisfaction with the ruling party’s governance.
He, however, said it is individuals within the party seeking self enrichment that have caused things to change.
“Voters are disillusioned with Swapo because of corruption. The opposition have used this as their weapon. But it is some actors within the party who are wrong, not the party,” he said.
He said politicians should seek to serve the public and not to obtain positions to enrich themselves, regardless of what party they join.
Sankwasa said he will leave no stone unturned until all unlawful practices are exposed and perpetrators are held accountable by the law.
Mukwe constituency councillor Damian Maghambayi defended Sankwasa following Kazongominja’s statement.
“He came to Mukwe by my invitation, and he did very well in addressing matters of mutual interest,” he said.
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