Sankwasa demands answers for Namibians waiting decades for land after fatal Walvis Bay fire

Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa questions why some Namibians wait 15 or more years for land without receiving any response from local authorities.

He raised the issue on Wednesday while visiting the site of a shack fire at Kuisebmond, Walvis Bay, that claimed the lives of Beauty Guidao-oas (20) and her niece, Gloria Guibes (2). The fire destroyed 12 shacks and affected 16 people.

While standing among the debris, Sankwasa said the tragedy exposed weaknesses in how informal settlements are managed across the country.

“I am aware that people are saying they have been applying for land for 15, even 20 years, and never got an answer,” he said.

“If you can prove that you applied 15 or 20 years ago and the municipality has not responded, we will demand answers from that municipality.”

He said overcrowding on small plots worsens damage when fires occur.

“The owner of this plot must have allowed people to settle here, and if it is not the owner then it is the municipality. Why do we allow people to be so cramped on a small plot? If there were only two families here, the damage would not have been this bad,” Sankwasa said.

He warned that flammable materials, poor planning and weak regulation make settlements extremely dangerous.

“The state of affairs here is extremely dangerous. These structures are all made from flammable materials. We need to reinforce regulations,” he said.

Sankwasa urged families not to rebuild shacks at the same site until proper procedures are followed.

“How do we render services if people come and grab land like this?” he asked. “Don’t prevent the government from making things better for you. Formalising informal settlements is about improving lives.”

One affected resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, says they applied for land more than 10 years ago but never received feedback.

“I applied for land long ago. There was no response. Now everything is gone,” the resident says.

“All our documents, including identity documents and other papers, were destroyed in the fire. We are left with nothing.”

The resident also raises concerns about the lack of support from authorities for people who have been waiting for land for years.

“It is frustrating. We have applied, followed the process, but no one responds. Now the fire has taken everything.”

During the visit, Sankwasa donated fleece blankets and food to assist the affected families. He said the gesture was to show solidarity and encourage cooperation with authorities.

“The government is here to help, but residents must also follow proper procedures and cooperate with the authorities,” he said.

Police investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, while local authorities are assessing the extent of the damage and planning assistance for the displaced families.

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