Hamukwaya, Mulunga play blame game in fuel payment scandal
Former Namcor finance executive Jennifer Hamukwaya has distanced herself from allegations that she failed to ensure payments from the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) were properly transferred from Enercon to Namcor for fuel supplied under a 2022 agreement.
Hamukwaya is one of several former Namcor executives arrested in connection with the Enercon fuel deal involving millions of dollars. She faces nine charges.
Testifying before magistrate Linus Samunzala last week, Hamukwaya described her role as one focused on protecting Namcor’s financial interests and denied any involvement in wrongdoing.
She told the court that although Enercon had opened the account in October 2021, she only became a joint signatory on 16 March 2022, the same day the supply agreement took effect.
“The agreement required that an authorised Namcor executive be added to the account to ensure that funds received were used exclusively to pay Namcor and not diverted for other purposes,” she said.
Subordinates’ responsibility
Hamukwaya’s remarks stand in stark contrast to the earlier testimony of former Namcor managing director Immanuel Mulunga, who claimed that responsibility for monitoring the account and ensuring payment rested with his subordinates.
“It was the responsibility of my subordinates,” Mulunga told the court under cross-examination last week. “I took many steps to get this money back. At some point, we even stopped supplying fuel – not only to Enercon but to other clients who owed Namcor.”
The State, however, questioned why Namcor continued supplying fuel to Enercon despite it owing nearly N$108 million and exceeding its credit limit of N$15 million.
A forensic audit by PWC Namibia flagged breaches of credit policies and unconventional payment arrangements, which now form part of the prosecution's case.
While Mulunga positioned himself as having acted in response to the arrears, Hamukwaya underscored her intent to safeguard Namcor’s interests by adhering to the structure set out in the agreement.
Bail hearings
In a separate development related to the case, Lydia Elindi, wife of accused Malakia Elindi, was granted bail on Friday of N$50 000 after the State withdrew its initial objection.
Her bail conditions include reporting to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) every Tuesday and Friday, surrendering travel documents, remaining within the Windhoek district, and handing over her two firearms.
Still awaiting their chance to argue for bail are Namcor’s commercial manager Olivia Dunaiski, former supply and logistics manager Cornelius ‘Cedric’ Willemse, Leo Nandago, and Jennifer Hamukwaya’s husband, Panduleni Hamukwaya.
The court has yet to rule on the bail applications of Immanuel Mulunga, Peter Elindi and Malakia Elindi, who have already submitted arguments in support of their release.
Accused individuals intending to submit bail applications by affidavit have until 28 July to do so.
The bail hearing continues on 1 August.
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Hamukwaya is one of several former Namcor executives arrested in connection with the Enercon fuel deal involving millions of dollars. She faces nine charges.
Testifying before magistrate Linus Samunzala last week, Hamukwaya described her role as one focused on protecting Namcor’s financial interests and denied any involvement in wrongdoing.
She told the court that although Enercon had opened the account in October 2021, she only became a joint signatory on 16 March 2022, the same day the supply agreement took effect.
“The agreement required that an authorised Namcor executive be added to the account to ensure that funds received were used exclusively to pay Namcor and not diverted for other purposes,” she said.
Subordinates’ responsibility
Hamukwaya’s remarks stand in stark contrast to the earlier testimony of former Namcor managing director Immanuel Mulunga, who claimed that responsibility for monitoring the account and ensuring payment rested with his subordinates.
“It was the responsibility of my subordinates,” Mulunga told the court under cross-examination last week. “I took many steps to get this money back. At some point, we even stopped supplying fuel – not only to Enercon but to other clients who owed Namcor.”
The State, however, questioned why Namcor continued supplying fuel to Enercon despite it owing nearly N$108 million and exceeding its credit limit of N$15 million.
A forensic audit by PWC Namibia flagged breaches of credit policies and unconventional payment arrangements, which now form part of the prosecution's case.
While Mulunga positioned himself as having acted in response to the arrears, Hamukwaya underscored her intent to safeguard Namcor’s interests by adhering to the structure set out in the agreement.
Bail hearings
In a separate development related to the case, Lydia Elindi, wife of accused Malakia Elindi, was granted bail on Friday of N$50 000 after the State withdrew its initial objection.
Her bail conditions include reporting to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) every Tuesday and Friday, surrendering travel documents, remaining within the Windhoek district, and handing over her two firearms.
Still awaiting their chance to argue for bail are Namcor’s commercial manager Olivia Dunaiski, former supply and logistics manager Cornelius ‘Cedric’ Willemse, Leo Nandago, and Jennifer Hamukwaya’s husband, Panduleni Hamukwaya.
The court has yet to rule on the bail applications of Immanuel Mulunga, Peter Elindi and Malakia Elindi, who have already submitted arguments in support of their release.
Accused individuals intending to submit bail applications by affidavit have until 28 July to do so.
The bail hearing continues on 1 August.
[email protected]
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