Africa-Press – Namibia. When president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed her new Cabinet earlier this year, many Namibians quietly questioned whether such appointments would translate into real governance reforms.
Historically, Namibia’s political culture has cast ministers as distant “political heads”, with administrative control delegated to technocrats.
This has often created a gap between political leadership and service delivery.
Just a few months later, James Sankwasa and Veikko Nekundi are challenging this all but entrenched dynamic.
Their leadership demonstrates that ministers can combine political authority with administrative oversight, strengthening democratic accountability in practice.
INSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY
As minister of urban and rural development, Sankwasa has acted decisively on alleged irregularities in local government.
He intervened in dubious land transactions at Katima Mulilo, exposed officials in Kunene for claiming allowances on fictitious trips and ordered a former mayor at Omuthiya to reimburse funds earned while employed elsewhere.
These interventions go beyond routine governance.
They reflect a commitment to institutional integrity, which political scientists view as central to democratic stability.
Sankwasa’s approach rejects bureaucratic inertia, long seen as a barrier to reform in post-liberation states.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IN SERVICE DELIVERY
At works and transport, Nekundi has been equally proactive.
His unannounced inspection at a Natis office allowed him to experience the same frustrations as ordinary citizens.
Nekundi pledged reforms, including digitalisation of services, to lower the transaction costs of accessing government.
On a state-funded road project, he found wage exploitation that violated Namibia’s labour standards.
By compelling compliance within three days and prioritising Namibian workers in subcontracting, he operationalised distributive justice.
Such action shows how state authority can be used to protect vulnerable groups and ensure development benefits reach local communities.
REDEFINING ROLES
Namibia’s Public Service Act of 1995 designates executive directors as administrative heads of ministries, while ministers are considered political leaders.
Yet the Constitution, Article 40, requires ministers to “direct, coordinate and supervise” their ministries.
Too often, this responsibility has been interpreted narrowly, reinforcing a culture where ministers were disconnected from implementation.
Sankwasa and Nekundi are realigning practice with constitutional intent.
They are restoring executive accountability, which demands that elected leaders be visibly responsible for policy outcomes.
PUBLIC TRUST BEYOND PARTISAN LINES
Equally striking has been the reaction from the public. Namibians across the political spectrum, from ruling party loyalists to opposition supporters and even politically disengaged citizens, have welcomed these interventions.
Such cross-partisan approval shows that citizens value leadership that is responsive and transparent, even when it transcends party boundaries.
Comparative cases highlight the benefits of this leadership style.
In Rwanda, ministers’ direct community inspections have enhanced state capacity and reduced corruption.
In Singapore, cabinet walkabouts help ground policies in lived realities.
In Botswana, the kgotla system institutionalises grassroots accountability.
These examples show that hands-on ministerial engagement can strengthen service delivery and trust in government.
Namibia stands to gain similar benefits if this type of model is sustained.
A PROMISING SHIFT IN GOVT CULTURE
Few expected Sankwasa and Nekundi to demonstrate this level of engagement so soon after their appointments.
Their actions show that ministers need not be symbolic political heads alone.
They can act as custodians of accountability and drivers of reform within the state machinery.
This development represents more than individual success. It signals a redefinition of governance culture in Namibia, where political leadership is visibly connected to service outcomes.
If sustained, it could set a new benchmark for ministerial performance and help rebuild citizens’ trust in democratic institutions.
Source: The Namibian
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