Sankwasa questions impact of past 25 years ministerial development plans

By: Hertha Ekandjo

Urban and rural development minister, James Sankwasa, has questioned the effectiveness of past development plans, calling for a critical assessment of whether they have delivered meaningful improvements to citizens’ lives.

Speaking at this week’s launch of the ministry’s strategic plan, Sankwasa said although the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has been crafting plans for the past 25 years, it remains unclear what tangible outcomes have been achieved.

“The ministry has in the past 25 years been crafting strategic plans. But what has come out of such plans? Have such plans achieved the desired results? This is critical for us to understand,” he said.

The minister stressed that while planning is essential, it must translate into real improvements in the quality of life of Namibians.

He noted that many past plans have focused on addressing immediate needs such as roads, clinics and water infrastructure, but questioned whether these interventions have been sufficient to drive long-term development.

Sankwasa also urged ministry officials and stakeholders to reflect on their performance against the development goals, particularly those outlined in Vision 2030, which aims to transform Namibia into a prosperous and industrialised nation.

He further emphasised that government institutions at regional and local levels play a central role in delivering development, noting that Namibia’s governance structure includes 14 regions, 121 constituencies and 59 local authorities.

Sankwasa warned that failure to involve key stakeholders could result in divisions within government structures, undermining service delivery and development efforts.