Sankwasa says decentralisation still ‘not visible’

**Lylie Joel **

RUNDU – Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa says decentralisation remains not visible in Namibia despite the Decentralisation Act, warning that how regional councils manage delegated functions will determine whether devolution advances or stalls.

Speaking at the Association of Regional Councils (ARC) congress in Rundu, Sankwasa said Namibia’s Constitution provides for central, regional and local government.

Regional councils serve constituencies and lead rural development, while local authorities are responsible for urban development. “Are we responding to the needs of the people at the grassroots?” he asked.

He said some functions have been delegated to regional councils, and how they are managed could accelerate or delay devolution.

He challenged delegates to assess ARC’s achievements against clear, measurable objectives and work with the ministry and central government to resolve challenges.

“If you cannot list what you have achieved, then revisit your objectives,” he said.

Sankwasa also asked whether ARC could safeguard councils’ image amid what he described as mismanagement of human and financial resources, and what role it should play in holding elected councillors accountable.

Turning to community needs, Sankwasa cited access to water, food security, roads and forest protection as priorities.

He said rural development was needed to support urban food supplies and warned that forest destruction affected weather patterns.

He urged councils to identify their local potential before deciding how to respond to constituency challenges.

Kavango East Governor Julius Hambyuka said the region had potential in agriculture, tourism and trade, but limited resources and growing expectations made planning and coordination essential.

He listed priorities including rural roads, water and sanitation, electricity, education and health infrastructure, agricultural production, land-use planning and natural resource management.

He said regional and local authorities must cooperate and councils should move from planning to implementation.

“We must move from identifying challenges to resolving them,” Hambyuka said, urging leaders to measure improvements in people’s lives, not simply activity.

ARC president Matengu Simushi said regional councils need authority and adequate financing to deliver.

“Responsibility without authority and adequate financing undermines effective regional governance,” he said. Simushi said the association was founded in 1995 to address problems faced by councillors in the country’s 14 regions.

He said councils needed knowledge to serve communities effectively, and decisions should be taken at the lowest level capable of addressing them.

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