Sostenus Wilherm
Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has rejected Divundu Village Council’s appeal to have chief executive officer Athanasius Ndjamba Maghumbo’s five-year contract renewed, making it clear that the council’s challenge is unlikely to change his decision.
Sankwasa told the Windhoek Observer that Maghumbo’s contract will not be renewed, regardless of whether the he influenced councillors to challenge the minister’s decision.
“His contract will not be renewed, even if he influences Councillors to appeal,” Sankwasa said.
The minister’s position comes amid allegations from a Divundu activist that Maghumbo personally drafted the council’s appeal against the rejection of his contract renewal and then presented it to councillors for their signatures.
According to the activist, the CEO prepared the document himself and instructed councillors to sign it in support of his continued employment.
“The letter was written by the CEO himself so that the councillors could sign it in his favour and allow him to go back to the position,” the activist alleged.
The activist further claimed that councillors signed the appeal on Friday, effectively endorsing the challenge against Sankwasa’s decision.
The allegations have raised questions about the circumstances under which the council’s appeal was prepared, particularly because the document seeks to overturn a decision directly affecting Maghumbo’s own employment.
Sankwasa rejected the council’s decision to renew Maghumbo’s contract in a letter dated 27 August 2026, citing concerns about his performance, financial management and compliance with statutory reporting requirements.
Sankwasa noted that Maghumbo had served as CEO since the proclamation of the Divundu Village Council but had allegedly failed to submit required budgets, audit reports and financial statements.
Sankwasa also raised concerns about the council’s financial management, including matters relating to compensation.
“His overall performance has not met the required standards,” Sankwasa stated, concluding that his office did not support the renewal of Maghumbo’s employment contract.
The Divundu Village Council has, however, challenged the minister’s assessment, arguing that the shortcomings identified by his office should not be attributed solely to the CEO.
In its appeal, the council maintains that annual budgets have consistently been prepared, considered and approved by the council before being submitted to the ministry as required by law.
While acknowledging difficulties in finalising annual financial statements and completing audit processes, the council argues that these challenges stem from broader institutional constraints within local authorities.
It cites vacancies in key finance and accounting positions, a shortage of qualified personnel, limited technical capacity, delays in external audits and inadequate financial and administrative resources.
“Council submits that these challenges are institutional in nature and cannot reasonably be attributed solely to the chief executive officer,” the appeal states.
The council further argues that there has been no formal finding of misconduct, dishonesty, gross negligence or dereliction of duty against Maghumbo that would justify the rejection of his contract renewal.
It maintains that no disciplinary process has established that the shortcomings identified by the ministry resulted from deliberate actions or omissions by the CEO.
The council has also defended Maghumbo’s continued leadership on grounds of institutional stability, arguing that he has accumulated significant institutional knowledge since the village council was proclaimed.
According to the appeal, Maghumbo has gained experience in the council’s operations, governance structures, development initiatives and relationships with stakeholders.
The council warns that removing him immediately could disrupt ongoing projects, delay the implementation of council resolutions and create uncertainty among employees and stakeholders.
It has therefore asked Sankwasa to reconsider his decision and allow the existing contractual arrangement to remain in place pending the outcome of the appeal, subject to applicable legal requirements.
However, Sankwasa’s latest comments suggest that the appeal has failed to soften his position.
The Windhoek Observer contacted Maghumbo and a councillor for comment on the allegation that the CEO drafted the appeal and asked councillors to sign it.
The councillor declined to comment, saying she did not have information on the matter.
Maghumbo had not responded to questions sent to him by the time of publication.
