Costly Katima CEO disciplinary fight drags on

Katima Mulilo mayor Kabende Kabende has defended the length and cost of the disciplinary process against suspended town council CEO Raphael Liswaniso, saying the seniority of the position requires an independent process and that legal costs depend on how long the proceedings run.His comments come amid concerns over the costs, after council spent more than N$1.2 million on legal fees during Liswaniso's initial suspension.Liswaniso told Namibian Sun yesterday that he is frustrated by the repeated postponements. He also lamented the financial and personal burden the drawn-out process has placed on him.Kabende, meanwhile, told Namibian Sun a disciplinary matter involving a CEO cannot simply be handled internally.“People have to appreciate that the level of a CEO, this preliminary hearing has to be done by an independent committee, which is chaired by an independent chairperson."He said the "costs are determined by how lengthy the process is", something the council cannot shy away from.Meter is still runningKabende did not disclose how much the council has spent on the current process, but Namibian Sun previously reported that the council incurred N$1 261 971.95 in legal fees during Liswaniso's initial suspension.Records show that between 27 December 2025 and 6 February, five "quick payments" were made to two law firms.Kangueehi &amp; Kavendjii Incorporated received N$862 921.95, while S.S. Makando Incorporated was paid N$399 050.Liswaniso’s initial suspension began on 28 October 2025 without pay. In April, the labour commission ruled that the suspension was illegal, resulting in his reinstatement.He was back in office for only five days before the council suspended him again, this time with full pay.Kabende said the duration of the disciplinary proceedings cannot be predicted because delays may arise from either side, while both parties must be given an opportunity to present their cases.“We can't really say this case will be completed tomorrow because there still has to be representation, there still has to be cross-examination and so forth.”Kabende also stressed that the suspension does not amount to a finding of guilt and that Liswaniso remains the substantive CEO while the disciplinary process is under way.“It would be wrong to say we want to boot him out because this is a process,” he added.Increasingly frustratedYesterday, Liswaniso suggested that the prolonged proceedings could be a deliberate attempt to delay the matter until his contract expires in August next year.Liswaniso said a hearing scheduled to run from 10 to 28 August was not concluded after it emerged that previous sessions had not been recorded, leading to a dispute over the reconstruction of the record.He said the matter had since been postponed to November so the record could be reconstructed, and the disciplinary hearing is now expected to resume in January.“If the mayor is saying it's ongoing, he is lying,” Liswaniso said. “The disciplinary process has been halted and postponed to January."Liswaniso said the prolonged process had also placed a financial and personal burden on him, as he has had to pay for his own legal representation.“My brother, me, I don't know what I am crucified for,” he said.“That is the reality. So the only person who can know why I was crucified is the minister, not the Katima Mulilo Town Council.”He also questioned why the council continues to support the disciplinary charges, claiming the council was not involved in their origin and that they were orchestrated by the line minister.

Costly Katima CEO disciplinary fight drags on

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-01

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Costly Katima CEO disciplinary fight drags on

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-01

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