Sankwasa warns officials may be held personally liable for losses at local authorities

Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has warned that councillors and administrative officials responsible for financial losses within regional and local authorities could be required to compensate the state.

Speaking at the 2026 regional and local authorities induction training at Mariental, Sankwasa has expressed concern over rising unpaid municipal bills and weak financial oversight in several councils.

He says growing arrears owed by residents, government institutions and councillors themselves are placing pressure on the financial stability of municipalities and undermining their ability to deliver essential services.

Sankwasa says the government is prepared to take stronger action to ensure accountability where mismanagement or negligence results in financial losses.

“I will ensure that any councillor or administrative official who causes financial damage to a government institution must be prepared to compensate the state for that loss,” he says.

The minister has directed local authorities to submit lists of outstanding municipal accounts belonging to pensioners and people with disabilities to his office for possible consideration of debt write-offs.

However, he stresses that other categories of debtors, including councillors and government institutions, would not be exempt from paying what they owe.

According to Sankwasa, councillors who have unpaid municipal accounts will be required to settle their debts, with deductions from their allowances to be implemented where necessary until the arrears are cleared.

He adds that chief executives of local authorities must ensure strict enforcement of municipal billing systems and take steps to recover outstanding debts.

Sankwasa also instructs government institutions with unpaid municipal accounts to settle their bills to prevent service disruptions to local authorities.

He says the ministry will introduce stronger oversight measures to ensure that regional and local authorities comply with existing legislation and strengthen financial management practices.

According to the minister, improving financial discipline and accountability at council level is critical to restoring public confidence in local government and ensuring that municipalities are able to provide reliable services to their communities.

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