Katima Mulilo Council Ordered to Reinstate Suspended CEO
By TUW
Suspended Katima Mulilo Town Council chief executive officer Raphael Liswaniso has been cleared to return to his position following an arbitration ruling that found his suspension to be unjustified.
The decision, issued on 8 April, determined that the council did not have sufficient grounds when it suspended Liswaniso on 28 October last year. The arbitrator ordered that the suspension be lifted with immediate effect and further directed the council to compensate him for all salary and benefits lost during the period.
The dispute is linked to a controversial land transaction involving the Katima Mulilo Town Council and Windhoek-based company Risk-Based Solutions (RBS) CC, which has attracted scrutiny from authorities. Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa has since called for the reversal of the deal, raising concerns over its legality and ethical implications.
According to council records, the decision to dispose of the land was approved during a meeting held on 8 June 2023 and later formalised in correspondence dated 15 June 2023, signed by Liswaniso. The agreement confirmed the transfer of 31 hectares of prime land situated near the riverbank northwest of Katima Mulilo to RBS CC, a company owned by Dr Sindila Mwiya.
In exchange, the company committed to provide a package of movable assets, including two SUVs, five quad bikes, a survey drone, and two high-quality laptops. The deal also included support for the council’s land management system through digital tools.
However, the minister’s directive to reverse the transaction has placed the future of the agreement in doubt, as questions continue to emerge regarding the manner in which the deal was concluded.
