NQA places Hamukwaya on unpaid leave, NIP defers decision to Luvindao
The Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) has placed its head of finance and administration, Jennifer Hamukwaya, on unpaid leave following her arrest in the high-profile Namcor-Enercon corruption case.
Hamukwaya, who joined the NQA after her acrimonious exit from Namcor where she served as finance executive, was arrested at work on 8 July. She was denied bail last week in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court and will soon mark three months in custody if not released.
Despite her incarceration, NQA insiders confirmed that Hamukwaya remains employed. “She is still employed. The council of the NQA is yet to pronounce itself on her status going forward. She was placed on unpaid leave in accordance with procedures of the Labour Act,” one official said.
NQA acting CEO Harmony Beukes did not respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP), on whose board Hamukwaya serves, has deferred the matter to health minister Esperance Luvindao. NIP CEO Kapena Tjombonde said: “In terms of Section 9 of the Public Enterprise Governance Act, 2019, board members are appointed by the line minister. Therefore, the removal also falls under the jurisdiction of the appointing authority.”
Questions sent to Luvindao went unanswered at the time of going to print.
According to the state, Hamukwaya received payments totalling about N$1.45 million between May 2022 and May 2023 from companies doing business with Namcor, including Enercon, Erongo Petroleum, and Oshali Fuel Centre. Some of these payments were allegedly channelled through her husband’s company, Panduleni Farming CC.
She is further accused of corruptly authorising fuel supplies to the firms despite them exceeding approved credit limits, a practice that prosecutors argue contributed to significant financial losses for Namcor. Her husband, Panduleni Hamukwaya, has also been arrested and remains in custody.
Hamukwaya, who joined the NQA after her acrimonious exit from Namcor where she served as finance executive, was arrested at work on 8 July. She was denied bail last week in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court and will soon mark three months in custody if not released.
Despite her incarceration, NQA insiders confirmed that Hamukwaya remains employed. “She is still employed. The council of the NQA is yet to pronounce itself on her status going forward. She was placed on unpaid leave in accordance with procedures of the Labour Act,” one official said.
NQA acting CEO Harmony Beukes did not respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP), on whose board Hamukwaya serves, has deferred the matter to health minister Esperance Luvindao. NIP CEO Kapena Tjombonde said: “In terms of Section 9 of the Public Enterprise Governance Act, 2019, board members are appointed by the line minister. Therefore, the removal also falls under the jurisdiction of the appointing authority.”
Questions sent to Luvindao went unanswered at the time of going to print.
According to the state, Hamukwaya received payments totalling about N$1.45 million between May 2022 and May 2023 from companies doing business with Namcor, including Enercon, Erongo Petroleum, and Oshali Fuel Centre. Some of these payments were allegedly channelled through her husband’s company, Panduleni Farming CC.
She is further accused of corruptly authorising fuel supplies to the firms despite them exceeding approved credit limits, a practice that prosecutors argue contributed to significant financial losses for Namcor. Her husband, Panduleni Hamukwaya, has also been arrested and remains in custody.
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