Katima Mulilo Town Council traded land for cars instead of selling it for cash. The council gave three plots to environmental expert Sindila Mwiya, who provided two SUVs, five quad bikes, a drone, and two laptops. Urban Development Minister James Sankwasa visited the riverside plots on Friday with local officials. He ordered the council to take back the land and return all vehicles immediately.
Council members failed to answer questions about plot sizes or values during the visit. Someone also traded another plot for a Mahindra pickup with a businessman, and a third plot went to a doctor for three cars. Officials stayed quiet about whether these vehicles became official town property. Zambezi Development Association leader Blessing Maanda criticized these deals as poor financial choices.
Maanda questioned why the council did not just sell the land and buy vehicles with the money. He worried about possible problems if the car payments defaulted. The Local Authorities Act contains no provisions allowing land-for-vehicle trades. Minister Sankwasa explained that land grows in value, but vehicles lose value over time.
Council members failed to answer questions about plot sizes or values during the visit. Someone also traded another plot for a Mahindra pickup with a businessman, and a third plot went to a doctor for three cars. Officials stayed quiet about whether these vehicles became official town property. Zambezi Development Association leader Blessing Maanda criticized these deals as poor financial choices.
Maanda questioned why the council did not just sell the land and buy vehicles with the money. He worried about possible problems if the car payments defaulted. The Local Authorities Act contains no provisions allowing land-for-vehicle trades. Minister Sankwasa explained that land grows in value, but vehicles lose value over time.
