Africa-Press – Namibia. In an escalation of a simmering governance crisis, Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, has issued a stern ultimatum to the mayor of Katima Mulilo, John Ntemwa, demanding a detailed response to serious allegations of governance and financial mismanagement.
Failure to do so could result in the suspension or dismissal of the entire council, Sankwasa has warned.
In a letter dated Tuesday, 22 July 2025, addressed to Ntemwa, Sankwasa outlined a string of governance irregularities allegedly committed by the Katima Mulilo Town Council, describing them as violations of the Local Authorities Act 23 of 1992, with specific reference to Section 30 (t), which prohibits the disposal or exchange of immovable property (land) without ministerial approval.
land-for-goods scandal uncovered during an official inspection of the council’s operations, Sankwasa said he discovered that land was illegally exchanged for movable assets such as vehicles, computers, and quad bikes — transactions that lacked the legally required ministerial consent.
Despite issuing a directive for the return of the movable assets and the immediate halt of activities on affected plots, including Plot No. 538, Sankwasa revealed that construction by a Chinese national continued unabated, undermining his directive.
In addition to governance failures, labour disputes within the council have worsened, drawing ministerial ire. On 3 June 2025, Sankwasa cautioned the mayor about unresolved and mishandled human resources matters — warning that failure to resolve them internally would lead to unnecessary legal costs for the council.
Two key cases were highlighted. These involved Silinda Mubonenwa – an employee at the town council, who alleges unfair discrimination after being overlooked for two management positions, despite reportedly being the highest or second-highest scorer in interviews.
The other case is of Mabengano Truno and 20 other staff members, who accuse the council of unfair reshuffling, claiming they were demoted and placed in unsuitable positions without consent — a move said to violate established labour laws.
Instead of resolving these matters internally, Sankwasa expressed disappointment that the mayor chose to host a media conference to publicly accuse him (Sankwasa) of political interference — a move he described as a “degrading” attack aimed at deflecting from the real issues.
Now, the cases have reached the Labour Arbitration Court, forcing the council to spend an estimated N$60 000 on legal fees — an expense the minister called “fruitless” and “avoidable.”
Internal auditors have reportedly confirmed non-compliance with key legislation, further bolstering the minister’s case for intervention. In light of the growing list of issues, Sankwasa has given the council until Friday, 25 July 2025, to “show cause” why he should not invoke his legislative authority to suspend or dismiss the entire council.
In his previous letter dated 3 June, Sankwasa issued a final warning: “Should this matter result into a cost to the council, such not only unnecessary but fruitless expenditure will be recovered from whosoever caused such financial loss.”
His latest letter reiterates the same, this time backed by findings from official audits, unresolved labour disputes, ignored directives, and alleged violations of the Local Authorities Act.
With the 25 July deadline looming, the Katima Mulilo Town Council faces a critical decision. Either it mounts a credible defence against the serious charges or faces possible ministerial intervention — a rare and grave measure that could see the council suspended or entirely dissolved.
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