Rundu: Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, has emphasised that affordable housing cannot exist without affordable land, stressing that the two must go hand in hand. He announced on Monday that under his tenure, there will be no auctioning of local authority land across the country.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the remarks were made during an induction workshop in Rundu which brought together newly elected regional and local authority councillors, chief regional officers, and administrative staff from the Zambezi, Kavango East, Kavango West, and Ohangwena regions. The programme aims to build the capacity of participants for effective institutional management and quality community service delivery. New councillors are being introduced to key regional and local governance issues while being equipped with oversight and leadership skills.

"On this score, I must state that there will be no auctioning of any land within any municipality area. We have for too long been highly reliant on central government for annual subventions," Sankwasa said. He noted that past land auctions have deprived Namibians of adequate housing and reminded officials that access to land was one of the reasons Namibians fought for liberation.

Addressing claims by local authorities that land is sold at market-related prices, the minister questioned the basis for such pricing. "Which market did you get this land from? Did you get this land yourselves as a council? The land belongs to government but is managed by local authorities. There are government-determined rates," he said.

Sankwasa also called for an end to land speculation, saying that political leaders, particularly within local authorities, often acquire plots without paying for them. He described land speculation as purchasing undeveloped land with the sole intention of profiting from its future price increase, rather than its current use. "This practice is illegal in Namibia," the minister said, adding that his ministry plans to conduct comprehensive land audits to track ownership and acquisition methods.