Africa-Press – Namibia. KATIMA MULILO – The renewed suspension of Katima Mulilo CEO Raphael Liswaniso has ignited a legal showdown, with his representative accusing the government of trampling on the rule of law.
Speaking on his behalf, labour consultant Puteho Kangumu yesterday said the 13 April suspension flies in the face of a binding arbitration award issued just days earlier.
“The minister’s directive poses a threat to constitutional democracy and makes a mockery of our legal system,” Kangumu charged.
An arbitrator on 8 April ordered that Liswaniso’s earlier suspension be lifted immediately and that he be paid all lost income – a ruling Kangumu says is final, binding and enforceable.
Despite this, urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa approved a fresh suspension with pay, which was swiftly executed by the Katima Mulilo mayor, Kabende Kabende.
Kangumu described the move as “ill-advised” and legally flawed, arguing that neither the minister nor the council can override an arbitration outcome.
“No one is above the law,” he said, adding that the minister was not even a party to the arbitration proceedings.
He further claimed that the repeated suspensions – widely circulated in public – are part of a calculated attempt to tarnish Liswaniso’s reputation.
“This is nothing but a smear campaign and character assassination,” Kangumu said.
Liswaniso, who was first suspended without pay in October 2025, successfully challenged the decision after internal processes failed, culminating in the arbitration victory.
Kangumu said his client will not “litigate in the public gallery” but is prepared to defend his rights through the courts.
For More News And Analysis About Namibia Follow Africa-Press
