Katima Council opposition members want Katima mayor removed

By Risco Lumamezi

TWO Members of the two opposition political parties at Katima Mulilo Town Council (KMTC), have co-opted to remove the current Katima Mulilo Mayor , John Ntemwa  after he chaired and dismissed the vote of no confidence against himself.

The concerned opposition members are  Hon. Chripher Mukendwa, NDP Councillor  and Hon. Charles Musiyalike , IPC Councillor .

NDP and IPC Councillors stand to refuse the unlawfulness act by the Katima Mulilo Mayor, John Ntemwa in failing to comply with the law , Local Authority Act 23 of 1992 in chairing the meeting held on July 9, 2024 at Katima Mulilo Town Council.

The whole matter came from the agenda, where the vote of no confidence was also involved on the agenda of the council. The mayor opted to be the chairperson of the meeting of which it was seen to be against the law which contravening section 24 of the Local Authority Act which should ought to make the rules without him as an ex officio because he was the one to be dealt with.

NDP Councillor Mukendwa has since tabled the motion of the vote of no confidence against Hon.Ntemwa on May 27, 2024 accusing him for interfering the affairs of the Katima Mulilo Town Council by forming-up or championing an illegitimate management committee of KMTC.

They are saying that the current Chairperson of the Management Committee (Hon.Namangolwa Mapenzi) was not legally elected since she was not seconded by anybody.

The infighting among the ruling SWAPO Katima Councillors who are the majority with four (4) members and the opposition parties’ members as the minority with each from three (3) different political parties has brought a deadlock in executing matters of concerns, among others such as a resolution on the matter of terminating RED FORCE Debt Collector in the town of Katima Mulilo, which is the public out-cry of the residents of Katima Mulilo but the matter is not yet implemented to remove RedForce.

The concerned members told Caprivi Vision that the botched advice of the KMTC  CEO Mr. Raphael Liswaniso instructed Hon.Ntemwa to chair the meeting on preliminary basis and later on someone would take over from him  , which they also said it was not legal.

IPC Councillor ,Hon. Musialike has argued that the code of conduct of Local Authority number 2 (t), which states that any person who is having a conflict of interest on a matter must recuse himself but the mayor continued in chairing the motion on the advice of the CEO.

He rebuked that he has been maintaining diplomacy since he became a local authority councillor , things have been becoming out of his hands as he cannot even maintain diplomacy.

“the mayor is allowed to chair the meeting under section 25 yes, but the meeting was called under section 24 which states that the management committee ought to make rules the chairperson becomes an ex official but the mayor chaired the meeting illegally ”. Stressed Musiyalike

Hon. Mukendwa added that the mayor acted  as if he was in his own house.

He  said he even stood up in declaration of himself saying that the mayor must leave the chamber to allow the Honorable Lascan Sikosi, the deputy mayor to proceed with the meeting but the mayor failed to comply.

He added that the opposition parties have been writing letters to the minister of Urban and Rural Development , Hon. Erastus Utoni but still the ministry have not sworn in the chairperson of the management.

“this is because the SWAPO leaders are failing to ad hear to the concerns of other councilors” said Mukendwa

When asked to hear his view on the matter, PDM Councillor  and  Katima Mulilo Deputy Mayor, Hon.Lascan Sikosi declined to comment and referred this reporter to KMTC , CEO.

When was asked to clarify the main motion of the agenda , Hon Mukendwa said that the main motion was to remove the mayor or to end his oath of office where they were supposed to go on a secret ballot paper and vote , which could indicate who wants the mayor to stay or leave in passing a motion of no confidence to the mayor?

“there are some factors which led to the dismissal of the motion. These are his negative behaviour and undermining of other councillors, conflict of interest in RED FORCE he does not want to come openly on the matter regarding RED FORCE and when Red force is going to be kicked out”. He spoke.

The NDP councillor expressed his concerns that since he took office as a new councillor in October 2023 ,  was not given induction training after his sworn-in ceremony.

NDP Councillor also divulged that he has been denied opportunities of travelling trips and other benefits such as  an official passport and special cell phones  enjoyed by other councillors.

When contacted for comments , Katima Mayor referred the Caprivi Vision to the  Katima Mulilo Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Liswaniso who requested written questions which were sent to him and acknowledged for having received them  and promised to respond , later upon asking for response both their cellphones remained unanswered.