Renthia Kaimbi
Residents of Keetmanshoop have accused a recently appointed adviser to the minister of urban and rural development, James Sankwasa, of benefiting from an alleged irregular municipal contract.
This is part of claims of governance failure at the Keetmanshoop Municipality.
The allegations are contained in a formal petition submitted by the Concerned Residents of Keetmanshoop and addressed to newly elected mayor Melody Swartbooi.
The petition, dated 9 December 2025 and seen by the Windhoek Observer, calls for urgent intervention into what residents describe as deep-rooted problems within the municipality.
The petition has also been copied to Sankwasa, //Kharas Regional Governor Dawid Gertze and Regional Council chairperson Gertjie Witbooi.
Residents accuse the municipality of poor governance, financial mismanagement, nepotism and corruption, which they say has severely undermined service delivery in the town.
One of the key issues raised is a N$3 million contract allegedly awarded to Boniface Mutumba for job evaluation and consultancy services during the tenure of former Landless People’s Movement councillors.
Mutumba was recently appointed as adviser to Sankwasa.
The residents are demanding proof of work done and full accountability for payments made under the contract.
A second contract cited involves a service level agreement with JJF Investment CC for the supply of electricity and water meters.
The petition claims the unit price of N$3 900 was significantly higher than similar meters from other suppliers costing about N$1 619, raising concerns over irregular procurement.
Beyond the two contracts, the residents allege irregular, opaque and biased recruitment practices at the municipality. They claim an unqualified human resources manager was appointed and that recruitment has favoured political party cadres.
They also allege interference in financial processes for personal or political benefit, including the approval of inflated quotations, suspicious contracts and payments made to contractors without proper accounting. The petition further claims that large debts owed by certain car dealers were written off, while ordinary residents continue to face strict debt collection.
Nepotism features prominently in the allegations. Residents accuse the municipality of appointing people based on personal relationships, political loyalty and family ties. They claim underqualified people were placed in key positions and that staff without political connections were bullied, including by former councillors who have since returned to the council.
The petition also raises concerns about the misappropriation of public funds.
Residents allege that money meant for basic services was spent on unnecessary travel and operations, worsened by weak internal controls and poor oversight.
They further assert that staff and councillors misused municipal vehicles for private purposes, and that they directly intervened in administrative matters alongside officials.
In response, the residents have put forward seven demands. These include the immediate suspension of Acting Chief Executive Officer Gregorius Andries and Human Resources Manager Adam Isaak to allow for an independent investigation.
They have asked Sankwasa to send a team to investigate procurement processes, financial management and the alleged misuse of council property. The petition also calls for a vote of no confidence in two management committee councillors.
Residents are demanding full forensic investigations into the Mutumba and JJF Investment contracts, as well as a detailed report on travel and subsistence expenditure over the past five years.
The petition gives the municipal council 14 days to respond. At the time of reporting, the Keetmanshoop Municipal Council had not issued a public response to the allegations.
Swartbooi acknowledged receipt of the petition, however, stating that it lacked signatures from community members and supporting documentation to substantiate the allegations.
She confirmed that council is investigating the allegations and will duly respond within the 14 days given by the petitioners.
“It makes it very difficult for the municipality because it’s the same people that petitioned a day after the elections while the new council was not sworn in yet. There was a previous petition on a trip that municipal employees took for a training in South Africa. But six of us received the petition and we will respond within the 14 days,” Swartbooi told the Windhoek Observer.
