Members of Parliament called on the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to ensure its plan to construct 10,000 housing units per annum over the next five years becomes more than just a numbers game, urging it to tie the project to real socio-economic upliftment across towns and villages.
During contributions towards the vote of the ministry, MPs stressed the need for the ministry to go beyond basic service delivery and to start conducting thorough socio-economic audits in urban and rural communities.
The slow pace of decentralisation was also raised, as they questioned why progress remains slow despite national policy commitments to devolve powers and services to the people.
MPs argued that meaningful decentralisation would empower local authorities to effectively respond to land and housing demands.
LPM MP Dawid Eigub highlighted the challenge of reconciling the housing target with the allocated budget, noting that the target represents a 464% increase in housing units, yet the budget has only increased by 4%. He also pointed out the problem of ageing infrastructure in local authorities, particularly the deteriorating potable water supply pipes.
Swapo MP Austin Samupwa expressed frustration over the decentralisation process, citing examples where regional councils struggle due to power being centralised within ministries rather than devolved effectively. He referenced the Kunene regional council's efforts to decentralise powers to improve education management as a positive example.
AR MP George Kambala underscored the absence of local development officers in local authorities, which hampers local economic development despite annual subsidies. He stressed that local authorities must be equipped not just to build houses but also to foster local economic activities.
In response, Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, attributed the slow decentralisation progress to financial mismanagement within local authorities. He announced a new approach where funds will be disbursed directly to suppliers rather than through local authorities to enhance accountability and reduce misuse of funds.
"In the last months that I have been in office, I can rightfully say there has been chaos in financial management in local authorities," Minister Sankwasa stated. "Until we are satisfied that there is accountability, we shall not dispatch money directly to councils but to the suppliers of services."