The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, has removed all members of the Katima Mulilo Town Council from office and taken over their responsibilities with immediate effect.

 The decision was published in the Government Gazette on August 15. 

The minister announced that his office will now assume all the council's powers and duties.

The removal comes after months of controversy at the Katima Mulilo Town Council. 

Residents and local businesses accuse the council of unfairly allocating land to politically connected individuals and foreign nationals while sidelining them. 

Complaints were also raised about a deal in which the council swapped land for vehicles, quad bikes, laptops and a drone without approval from the ministry. 

Minister Sankwasa ordered the return of the vehicles after denouncing the transaction and threatening to hold officials personally liable for the costs.

The removal of the vehicles created tension between the council and the ministry. 

The mayor and chief executive officer of Katima Mulilo argued that the minister's orders were not legally binding because they were communicated through the media and not in writing. 

Following the dispute, the minister has now dissolved the council and assumed direct control of its functions.