Copyright namibian
The owner of RedForce Debt Management is claiming the minister of urban and rural development, James Sankwasa, has abused his power by positioning himself at the forefront of an alleged smear campaign against RedForce. RedForce owner Selma Nangombe is making this claim in a sworn statement filed at the Windhoek High Court. Nangombe’s affidavit is in support of an application by RedForce for a directive that Sankwasa issued in August to be reviewed, set aside and declared unconstitutional by the court. Sankwasa directed all local authorities in Namibia on 4 August not to renew existing contracts with RedForce when those expire, and not to enter into any agreement with RedForce if they have not yet contracted the close corporation to carry out debt collection for them. In the directive, Sankwasa claimed RedForce has “caused many economic and political challenges and problems for citizens and residents” of local authorities using its services. “The directive stems from a personal hostility that the minister has towards RedForce,” Nangombe alleges in her sworn statement. She also says: “The directive literally came out of the blue. RedForce was not alerted to any process leading to the directive, nor that the directive was being considered by the minister. At no point was RedForce called to present its case regarding the allegations made in the directive.” If Sankwasa’s directive is implemented, the results would be devastating for RedForce, as it would effectively be banned from doing business with any local authority in Namibia, Nangombe says. “Not only does that mean that RedForce is deprived of its right to trade and conduct business freely, but it will also mean that the bulk of RedForce’s business will be eradicated,” she says. “The aim with the directive is to destroy RedForce and if allowed to stand, that is exactly what the result will be.” According to Nangombe, RedForce plays a vital role in supporting local authorities across Namibia by helping them recover funds needed to sustain basic services such as water, electricity, sanitation and waste management. Nangombe says it is understandable that many residents feel aggrieved when suddenly confronted with long-overdue bills or strict repayment demands. She acknowledges that the service provided by RedForce is unpopular, but says it is also necessary. “Debt collection is rarely welcomed, yet it is a mechanism that ensures fairness among all residents,” Nangombe says. “When everyone contributes, the burden does not fall disproportionately on a few. RedForce is not only collecting debt, but also helping preserve the sustainability of municipal services.” Nangombe claims as well: “The public smear campaign directed at RedForce is, in truth, largely fuelled by defaulters who wish to be left in peace rather than face the consequences of their unpaid accounts.” UNPAID ACCOUNTS Sankwasa has a personal history with RedForce, according to Nangombe. She says two loan accounts with the Agricultural Bank of Namibia in the names of Sankwasa and his wife were handed over to RedForce for recovery during February 2017. Both accounts were settled after that. During July 2022, the Katima Mulilo Town Council also handed two accounts registered or linked to Sankwasa over to RedForce for debt collection, Nangombe recounts. For the first account, water services were disconnected at the end of May 2023 after persistent non-payment, with the account then in arrears of N$19 320. In respect of the second account, water services were disconnected in September 2023, when the account was in arrears of N$27 956, and again in May this year, when it was in arrears of N$2 127, Nangombe says. She also says that by the time the first account was finally settled in August this year, RedForce had collected about N$86 850 for the Katima Mulilo Town Council, while on the second account N$53 186 was collected by the time the account was settled in July this year – four weeks before Sankwasa issued his directive about RedForce. Sankwasa’s directive is unreasonable, irrational, arbitrary, erratic and a personal stance against RedForce, and his conduct “was in all circumstances clearly indicative of an abuse of power or office”, Nangombe claims. She further claims there is no basis in law for Sankwasa’s directive and that he acted outside his powers when he issued the directive. The government attorney’s office has given notice that the minister is opposing the application filed by RedForce. Judge Orben Sibeya postponed the case to 13 November on Thursday last week. The parties involved in the matter have been ordered to file a joint status report with the court by 10 November.
