Shaningwa steps in at Katima

Despite much political pressure and outrage from the Namibian nation, the Katima Mulilo Town Council is pushing ahead with the demolitions of illegal structures at the town.The CEO of the KMTC Raphael Liswaniso yesterday told Namibian Sun nothing is done outside the law and emphasised that he is not aware of any orders to stop the demolitions and said they are ongoing. His mayor, however, appears to disagree.During a media briefing on Friday morning Mayor Georgina Mwiya-Simataa said the council is not anti-poor and is only carrying out its mandate, which is to provide serviced land and other amenities at a cost. However, yesterday she had changed her tune and said the demolitions have been put “on hold” for negotiations with stakeholders to find an amicable solution.“We have stopped; I have spoken to the urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa now. She wants to see us today [Monday] so that we can brief her on what is happening,” said the mayor. The town council, on 28 September with the assistance of the police, ordered the demolitions of illegal structures erected on municipal land, leaving many families homeless and some injured.Shaningwa yesterday handed over houses constructed under the Mass Housing programme at the Bukalo village in the Zambezi Region. On Friday secretary-general of Swapo Nangolo Mbumba said it is not a party problem but a government issue which must be addressed by the government.On the same day, the Ombudsman, Advocate John Walters confirmed to Namibian Sun that a team was dispatched that morning to investigate rights violations in the town. Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Norman Tjombe condemned the KMTC saying it has “descended into a vigilante organisation” much like the apartheid regime. Tjombe confirmed that that they are approaching the High Court for an interdict if the actions do not cease.DTA president McHenry Venaani on Saturday said it is imperative that Shaningwa finds a speedy and caring way to handle the situation before it escalates and more people are hurt. “It is truly shocking that this many years after the house demolitions at the Old Location under the apartheid government, that today we are faced with a situation in Katima Mulilo which eerily echoes the past,” said Venaani. He emphasised that although his party does not advocate for lawlessness and people taking the law into their own hands, it equally does not support laws and policies with no humanitarian aspect. “What is happening in Katima Mulilo is a shame to the political government in this country,” Venaani said adding that the party plans a demonstration on 24 October to demand the delivery of plots for poor people. The All People's Party (APP) president Ignatius Shixwameni has also laid into the Katima Mulilo political leadership saying it strongly condemns the “barbarism and savagery” of the Swapo-run town council.“We call upon the Swapo-controlled council and central government to order an immediate stop to this barbarism and savagery against our own people, which is reminiscent of the apartheid regime. It is pure state sponsored terrorism against our own black people and must be stopped immediately and unconditionally,” said Shixwameni.He also called on President Hage Geingob and Shaningwa to issue an immediate nationwide moratorium stopping all evictions and demolitions of people's property and to speed up the construction of decent and affordable housing for the people.The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda has also called on the Ombudsman Advocate John Walters to exercise his constitutional mandate and urgently intervene in the matter. Walters yesterday confirmed that a team is currently in Katima Mulilo to investigate rights abuses. JEMIMA BEUKES

Shaningwa steps in at Katima

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-09-19

Please login to leave a comment

Shaningwa steps in at Katima

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-09-19

Please login to leave a comment

Login