The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, has criticised constituency councillors who did not attend his meeting aimed at discussing development and matters related to the Zambezi Regional Council.

This also comes after they failed to attend two other previous meetings meant to address key issues.

Sankwasa held a meeting that was attended by four of the eight regional councillors.

Present at the meeting were Matengu Simushi for Katima Mulilo Rural, Bernard Sisamu for Kabbe North, Mickey Lukaezi for Sibbinda Constituency and Raymond Sezuni for Kabbe South.

It was, however, explained that one of the absent councillors was out on official duties, while others' reasons for non-attendance were not explained.

The meeting, among others, discussed development delays with regard to the construction and completion of the Masokotwani rural development centre.

The centre in Sibbinda Constituency has been at a standstill for the past 14 years.

"Part of it is the non-availability of funds being allocated, part of the reason is misuse of the little funds that they make available. Those are the two parameters that have caused stalling in the construction of the project, because I have that information from the report of the auditor general, the internal auditor's report for the misuse of funds."

The delays in development pertaining to the Kongola settlement were also on the agenda.

"It's a cause for concern that I must understand why the situation is as it is. Before I became minister, I remember vividly that the Kongola residents had a demonstration about the lack of development and the village council and the issue of possible financial mismanagement of the budget allocated for Kongola development. I wanted to appreciate this from the council."

He also said that the proclaiming of the Mafuta compound as part of Katima Mulilo or a settlement on its own was long overdue.

Once proclaimed, it will relieve pressure on Katima Mulilo owing to urbanisation.

Additionally, Sankwasa questioned the use of funds amounting to N$4.8 million of unauthorised expenditure. 

According to an auditor's report presented by Sankwasa in the meeting, the funds were paid for legal costs against the regional council, however, no council resolution was provided. 

"These funds were from the constituency development fund without approval from the ministry of urban and rural development, contrary to section 27 of the state financing. I wanted to appreciate what the council did to address this issue of the N$4.8 million. The auditors have pointed out that this is an issue that requires attention."

Sankwasa said the meeting served as a platform for council management to explain what the funds were used for, however, that and all the other issues on the table, he said, would not be discussed without a full house.