Companies deny Katima land-for-cars claims as Sankwasa seeks forfeiture
Foresight Group Namibia (FGN) and Risk-Based Solutions (RBS) have denied allegations that they were involved in a land-for-vehicles exchange with the Katima Mulilo Town Council, following urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa’s call for the vehicles to be forfeited to the state as proceeds of crime.
“No land swap, exchange, or so-called bartering system was ever proposed in the [companies’] application,” the companies stated in response to Sankwasa, who has reported the matter to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
“If the vehicles were obtained through corrupt means, should they not be forfeited?” Sankwasa asked during a broadcast of The Agenda talk show on NTV last night.
“Do we have a law in this country that allows state land to be bartered? We don’t. So when someone says it’s just an administrative issue, what do they mean?”
In a statement seen by Namibian Sun, the companies stressed that their proposal to the council did not involve a vehicle-for-land deal.
“An initial N$1.2 million cash offer – later revised to N$1.7 million – was made for six hectares of buildable land out of a total 32.5 hectares,” they said. “The minister’s use of terms like 'land swap', 'exchange', or 'bartering system with cars', and the singling out of Sindila Mwiya’s project from other similar developments in Katima Mulilo, is viewed as a deliberate attempt to defame Mr Mwiya and damage the reputation of his associated businesses.”
According to the companies, on 13 April 2023, FGN and RBS submitted a private treaty application to purchase a portion of land on Farm Katima Mulilo Townlands No. 1328. The offer included roughly 31 hectares - 28 hectares of floodplain (Mulapo) and about 3 hectares of buildable land - for N$1.2 million.
On 2 May 2023, Mwiya, representing both companies, presented the proposal to the town council. The companies claim the council itself suggested redirecting the purchase funds toward the acquisition of urgently needed assets - specifically, vehicles to transport councillors - rather than paying the money into municipal accounts.
“It was thus suggested by the council that its procurement team consider applying the purchase amount toward the procurement of council assets, with payments made directly to suppliers,” the companies said.
During a field inspection on 1 June 2023, it was discovered that part of the initially proposed land had already been allocated to the University of Namibia. The council then proposed an alternative parcel extending toward Wenela Farm, which included undeveloped land and waste sites. Mwiya, a qualified engineer, reportedly identified costly but feasible development opportunities.
A letter dated 5 July 2023 confirmed the purchase of 31 hectares, including parts of the Riverside Flood Channel and land near Wenela Farm. Mwiya accepted all terms outlined in the town council’s 18 June 2023 offer, which included the procurement and delivery of two new Toyota Fortuner 4.2 4x4 vehicles from Indongo Toyota Windhoek for a combined total of N$1.4 million. Additionally, the deal covered the purchase of four quad bikes from Xtreme Quads valued at N$188,800, a DJI Mini 3 Pro drone package from Mincam Namibia costing N$31,275, and two ASUS ZenBook 14 laptops for N$48,000.
Three weeks ago, Namibian Sun reported that Katima Mulilo CEO Raphael Liswaniso had refused to comply with the minister’s directive to return the vehicles acquired through the deal.
The controversy surfaced during Sankwasa’s recent visit to the town, where he publicly ordered the return of the two Fortuners and a Mahindra vehicle reportedly received between 2020 and 2023.
In response, Liswaniso told Namibian Sun: “We are not directed from a mouth. The minister will have to put it in writing. We don’t act on political statements made to the media. That’s not how it works.”
He denied that the vehicles were acquired in a land-for-assets deal, saying the council had sold the land and opted to receive goods of equivalent value to streamline procurement and reduce logistical costs.
While Sankwasa confirmed the matter had been reported to the ACC, its director-general Paulus Noa told One Africa TV that the commission would not investigate the case. He said the matter lacked the criminal elements of corruption and instead amounted to an “administrative procedural irregularity.”
Noa added that although the council’s decision to barter land for assets was flawed, the issue fell outside the ACC’s mandate.
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“No land swap, exchange, or so-called bartering system was ever proposed in the [companies’] application,” the companies stated in response to Sankwasa, who has reported the matter to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
“If the vehicles were obtained through corrupt means, should they not be forfeited?” Sankwasa asked during a broadcast of The Agenda talk show on NTV last night.
“Do we have a law in this country that allows state land to be bartered? We don’t. So when someone says it’s just an administrative issue, what do they mean?”
In a statement seen by Namibian Sun, the companies stressed that their proposal to the council did not involve a vehicle-for-land deal.
“An initial N$1.2 million cash offer – later revised to N$1.7 million – was made for six hectares of buildable land out of a total 32.5 hectares,” they said. “The minister’s use of terms like 'land swap', 'exchange', or 'bartering system with cars', and the singling out of Sindila Mwiya’s project from other similar developments in Katima Mulilo, is viewed as a deliberate attempt to defame Mr Mwiya and damage the reputation of his associated businesses.”
According to the companies, on 13 April 2023, FGN and RBS submitted a private treaty application to purchase a portion of land on Farm Katima Mulilo Townlands No. 1328. The offer included roughly 31 hectares - 28 hectares of floodplain (Mulapo) and about 3 hectares of buildable land - for N$1.2 million.
On 2 May 2023, Mwiya, representing both companies, presented the proposal to the town council. The companies claim the council itself suggested redirecting the purchase funds toward the acquisition of urgently needed assets - specifically, vehicles to transport councillors - rather than paying the money into municipal accounts.
“It was thus suggested by the council that its procurement team consider applying the purchase amount toward the procurement of council assets, with payments made directly to suppliers,” the companies said.
During a field inspection on 1 June 2023, it was discovered that part of the initially proposed land had already been allocated to the University of Namibia. The council then proposed an alternative parcel extending toward Wenela Farm, which included undeveloped land and waste sites. Mwiya, a qualified engineer, reportedly identified costly but feasible development opportunities.
A letter dated 5 July 2023 confirmed the purchase of 31 hectares, including parts of the Riverside Flood Channel and land near Wenela Farm. Mwiya accepted all terms outlined in the town council’s 18 June 2023 offer, which included the procurement and delivery of two new Toyota Fortuner 4.2 4x4 vehicles from Indongo Toyota Windhoek for a combined total of N$1.4 million. Additionally, the deal covered the purchase of four quad bikes from Xtreme Quads valued at N$188,800, a DJI Mini 3 Pro drone package from Mincam Namibia costing N$31,275, and two ASUS ZenBook 14 laptops for N$48,000.
Three weeks ago, Namibian Sun reported that Katima Mulilo CEO Raphael Liswaniso had refused to comply with the minister’s directive to return the vehicles acquired through the deal.
The controversy surfaced during Sankwasa’s recent visit to the town, where he publicly ordered the return of the two Fortuners and a Mahindra vehicle reportedly received between 2020 and 2023.
In response, Liswaniso told Namibian Sun: “We are not directed from a mouth. The minister will have to put it in writing. We don’t act on political statements made to the media. That’s not how it works.”
He denied that the vehicles were acquired in a land-for-assets deal, saying the council had sold the land and opted to receive goods of equivalent value to streamline procurement and reduce logistical costs.
While Sankwasa confirmed the matter had been reported to the ACC, its director-general Paulus Noa told One Africa TV that the commission would not investigate the case. He said the matter lacked the criminal elements of corruption and instead amounted to an “administrative procedural irregularity.”
Noa added that although the council’s decision to barter land for assets was flawed, the issue fell outside the ACC’s mandate.
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