Residents of Katima Mulilo have welcomed the dissolution of the town council, expressing dissatisfaction with alleged poor decision-making and mismanagement over the years.

Community members complained about lack of access to water, questionable tender allocations, the sale of land at lower prices to foreign nationals, the appointment of the Red Force and the neglect of rural area development.

They noted that the council’s decision to appoint Redforce as a debt collector has left many without access to water for years, as many of the affected are unemployed. On the issue of land, residents say that foreign individuals, especially in the business community, are prioritised and are sold land at more affordable prices compared to Namibian citizens.

They praised Minister of Urban and Rural Development James Sankwasa for dismissing the council management while also imploring him to do the same with regional councils, saying that many of the residents in rural areas face underdevelopment and remain neglected.