The Minister of Urban and Rural Development (MURD), James Sankwasa, has directed the Tsumeb Municipality to ensure that residents evicted from Endombo are allocated plots before the end of November 2025.

Sankwasa visited residents evicted from Endombo.
Nearly 4 years ago, more than 30 families were evicted from the compound and have been living in makeshift structures just outside Endombo. 

"Because you and I are here because of them who vote, how did you respond to their issues?  Do you have an answer? The only answer is the land that we are busy servicing. You are busy servicing in 2025. Why didn't you start servicing that time?" asks Sankwasa.

The land in Extension 9 is currently being serviced. 
The minister said since it's rainy season, people should be relocated by the end of November, saying they have been living in such conditions for too long.

"You are so fortunate that we have elections next month; I was never going to work with a council like this. Either you are working or you are not working," he stressed. 

While touring Kuvukiland, Sankwasa expressed shock over the small size of plots allocated to residents.

"Importing the apartheid policy to come and give a person a policy where he cannot even extend a sitting room or whatever even if there's an increase in the number of dependants. 

He also expressed disappointment with the municipality for failing to address the community's basic needs. 
Residents complained that water tanks installed by the municipality are empty, saying they only had access to water now because of the minister's visit.

"From the end of August until now there was no water; it's only last night I was here because Sankwasa is in town. Let's rush and put water," complained a resident.  

The minister will be returning to Tsumeb for a follow-up.