The president of the United Democratic Fund (UDF), Hendrik Gaobaeb, raised concerns around the ongoing dispute between the Kunene Regional Council and the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, highlighting wasteful use of public funds on private lawyers.
He raised the issue on the sidelines of a courtesy visit to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah this week.
The dispute centers around the Kunene Regional Council's 2021 reinstatement of suspended Chief Regional Officer George Kamseb without consulting the minister.
Kamseb was suspended in 2016 for alleged fund misappropriation, and his contract expired in 2018, prompting the then Urban and Rural Development Minister to seek a High Court review.
In July 2024, the council's chairperson and UDF president, Hendrik Gaobaeb, complained to then-President Nangolo Mbumba about the minister's refusal to engage due to sub judice, despite approving public funds for lawyers on both sides.
By November 2025, Minister James Sankwasa stated that council members must be held personally accountable for financial losses suffered by the government due to their unlawful reinstatement and for ignoring his directives.
"So what we were trying to suggest to the President was to let these parties engage. The fact that the case is currently in court does not prevent the parties from engaging with each other. Engage and agree on something, and then they can tell the court. This is what we have agreed on. If someone acts outside the agreement, then that person must be taken back to court. Then they can solve the problem," said Gaobaeb.
Sankwasa said he will not authorise government funds for the Kunene Regional Council while it continues to operate outside the law or when payments go to a non-government employee.
He added that, despite attempts to resolve the matter through meetings in the Kunene Region in 2025 and in Swakopmund two weeks ago, councillors have not honoured agreements.
"That was an amicable solution I was looking forward to. But if they are not trying to meet, we reach a consensus, an agreement; they go out, and they do the opposite of what we have agreed on. I cannot be playing such games. I cannot continue playing such games. And if they want to negotiate, let them come, but I'm not going to them. But I'm saying they won't get a government subsidy until they comply with the law. Now, the Kunene Regional Council has failed to account for what duties this person was performing outside Opuwo for 365 days, or one year. 365 days per year were paid as S&T, not a salary. And there was no budget for that S&T in the first place because S&T is budgeted differently than a salary."