ACC investigator pokes holes in Hamukwaya’s testimony

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lead investigator Oberty Inambao, who testified yesterday in the ongoing Namcor–Enercon fraud case, told the court that former Namcor finance executive Jennifer Hamukwaya cancelled a formal credit guarantee requirement, paving the way for Enercon to receive fuel worth millions.Inambao said the credit guarantee was meant to safeguard Namcor from financial losses.Namcor had initially set a N$5 million credit guarantee for Enercon on 19 November 2021, but Hamukwaya withdrew the requirement just 10 days later, on 29 November.Following this, Namcor extended a N$15 million credit facility to Enercon on 16 March 2022, based solely on government-issued purchase orders from the Namibian Defence Force (NDF), which were used as informal collateral.Inambao labelled this arrangement “highly irregular” and dangerous, pointing out that purchase orders do not carry the legal or financial weight of a credit guarantee.“Accepting government purchase orders as collateral lacks the formal backing of a credit guarantee and offers little assurance should Enercon fail to meet its payment obligations,” he testified.This deviation from standard credit control procedures, Inambao said, exposed Namcor – and ultimately taxpayers – to serious financial risk. Without a guarantee in place, the company’s ability to recover funds in case of default was significantly weakened.Credit confusionWhen she took the stand last Friday, Hamukwaya said it was standard for clients to receive a N$15 million credit limit, though this could be increased – sometimes up to N$100 million – based on the client’s profile and contracts won. She admitted that some of these decisions were subjective.Hamukwaya said she was confident in the legitimacy of the N$53 million Namcor-Enercon asset deal, as it was signed off by Namcor Trading & Distribution managing director Immanuel Mulunga.“One clause stated that N$35 million of the N$53 million would be paid to Namcor, and another required that the assets not be encumbered,” she testified.Ninth accused speaksMeanwhile, Leo Nandago, listed as the ninth accused in the case, said he intends to plead not guilty if the case proceeds to trial.During a bail hearing yesterday, Nandago’s lawyer Ileni Gebhardt read out an affidavit in which he disputed the prosecution's claim that he paid N$500 000 as a bribe to Hamukwaya via a company owned by her husband, Panduleni Hamukwaya.According to prosecutors, the payment to Panduleni Farming CC was made as a “thank you” for Hamukwaya’s role in approving a N$22 million fuel supply contract to Erongo Petroleum CC, in which Nandago held a stake.Nandago confirmed he previously owned 50% of Erongo Petroleum but said he sold his shares to Austin Elindi in February 2024 and had no operational involvement in the company at the time of the alleged offence.He added that Elindi, who managed the company under a special power of attorney, was not arrested or charged, despite being the sole owner during the period in question. - rita@nmh-hub.com.na

ACC investigator pokes holes in Hamukwaya’s testimony

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-05

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ACC investigator pokes holes in Hamukwaya’s testimony

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-05

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