Katima Mulilo residents plan protest over land deal secrecy

A group of Katima Mulilo residents has notified town officials of their intent to stage a demonstration today, demanding accountability and access to documents related to recent land transactions.In a formal letter addressed to town CEO Raphael Liswaniso and mayor John Ntemwa, the group said they plan to submit a petition demanding accountability and access to information related to a recent council notice regarding the lease, sale, and donation of plots by private treaty.“We are fed up with the Katima Mulilo Town Council being treated as a private office rather than a public institution,” wrote team leader Owen Mahoto. “They are deliberately withholding these documents because they know disclosure will expose their corrupt practices. We are fully aware that land has been systematically allocated to cronies and relatives of those in power.”Access to public documents deniedThe residents’ anger was sparked by a 16 July public notice published in the Namibian Sun, inviting objections to various land transactions. When Mahoto attempted to inspect the related documents on 17 July, he said he was denied access by council staff. A follow-up email to the town planning department reportedly yielded the same response, with staff citing an instruction from the CEO to refer such requests to the councillors.The petition accuses the council of violating the Local Authorities Act by withholding public records. It calls for full transparency and demands a halt to land sales until proper procedures are followed.However, in an interview with Network Media Hub, Liswaniso dismissed the allegations, arguing that the council had complied with the law by publishing the notice for objections. He maintained that procedures for accessing council documents—particularly those deemed privileged—require formal application and approval by council, not unilateral access.“The CEO does not make laws. I implement laws,” he said. “There are documents open for inspection, and others that require council approval. The process must be respected. If they are not satisfied, they can challenge the law, but I cannot break it for them.”CEO says protest leaders had personal interestsLiswaniso further claimed the individuals behind the protest, including Mahoto, had previously applied for business plots and were now upset that their applications had not been prioritised. He alleged that they had sought a deal to withdraw their objections in exchange for being included in the current advertised list—an offer he says he rejected.“The plots they are complaining about were advertised in line with the law. They have a right to object, but they cannot demand access to privileged documents or bypass procedures,” the CEO said. “If they suspect corruption, they must report it to the appropriate authorities.”The planned protest underscores growing public frustration with land governance in the town, and raises questions about how municipalities balance transparency, legal constraints, and public expectations.phillipus@nmh-hub.com.na

Katima Mulilo residents plan protest over land deal secrecy

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-05

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Katima Mulilo residents plan protest over land deal secrecy

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-05

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