The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Hon. Sankwasa James Sankwasa, has dismissed claims that Namibia’s slow development is caused by a lack of money, instead pointing to issues such as mismanagement of funds, excessive bureaucracy, and unpatriotic attitudes.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the upgrading of Winnie Mandela Avenue on Monday, 07 July 2025, Sankwasa said Namibia has sufficient resources to drive development but continues to face unnecessary delays due to poor handling of projects.
“Namibia is not a poor country. We are not suffering from a shortage of money. What we suffer from is misuse of resources, too much bureaucracy, and people who are not patriotic,” Sankwasa stressed.
He urged the public to embrace patriotism by cooperating with government projects, particularly in cases requiring relocation for infrastructure upgrades. “We must all be ready to make sacrifices for development, including giving way for roads and other services,” he said.
The Winnie Mandela Avenue upgrade is a joint effort between the Road Fund Administration (RFA), the City of Windhoek, and Ongos Valley Development, aimed at improving road connectivity and easing traffic flow in the area.
