Individual councillors involved in the Katima Mulilo Town Council Land for Vehicle programme will be held responsible for the legal costs in case companies that participated in the project decide to sue the government through the Town Council.

Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa said this in an interview with Business Today.

Recently, the Katima Mulilo Town Council found itself in hot water after it emerged that they exchanged land for vehicles, a matter that Sankwasa condemned.

The exchange includes two SUV vehicles, two new quad bikes, three second-hand quad bikes, a survey drone, and two laptops.

The vehicles have been impounded until they are returned to the owners.

Sankwasa said gone are the days when public office bearers take irresponsible decisions that result in lawsuits without care, as they know that in the event of the lawsuit, the government will take care of the costs.

"Section 11 of the state finance act says whoever is employed in an institution of the ministry or agency who causes a loss to the state should bear the consequences. Whether by omission or commission, you must bear the consequences because we cannot run a free-for-all. This is where everybody does whatever they do, making wrong decisions when they know it is deliberate because the money is not in their pockets; they don't care because the state is going to pay."

Sankwasa said he is in the process of identifying all councillors across the country who overstepped the boundaries, with a consideration of disqualifying them from running for the same office in the future.

The minister is also of the opinion that it is time to start with lifestyle audits to ensure that councillors are not funded through corrupt activities.