Ex-August 26 CEO drew N$40 000 salary from Enercon
• Board mum on double-dipping
Shalumbu recently reached a "mutual agreement" to resign from August 26 while on suspension over inflated invoice allegations.
Nikanor NangoloWindhoek
Former August 26 Holding CEO Ndajoina Shalumbu, who recently left the company while on suspension over an alleged N$8 million spare part invoice scandal, was simultaneously earning a monthly salary of N$40 000 from Enercon Namibia.
Documents seen by Namibian Sun show that Shalumbu was listed as an “executive” at Enercon, although his specific role remains unclear. He resigned from that position in January 2024 following his appointment as a non-executive director on Enercon’s board.
In a resignation letter dated 30 January 2024, Shalumbu wrote: “I would hereby like to tender my resignation as an executive at Enercon with effect from 31 January 2024 due to the fact that I have been appointed as a non-executive director on the board of directors of Enercon. August 26 Holdings will look into the need to replace me as an executive and communicate to the board of Enercon.”
August 26 holds a 25% stake in Enercon, having paid N$15 million to become co-owner of the now scandal-hit fuel supplier. Enercon was founded by brothers Peter and Malakia Elindi, who – along with nine others – were recently arrested in connection with the Enercon-Namcor corruption saga. The shareholding was acquired after Enercon secured a 15-year contract to supply fuel to the ministry of defence. August 26 is owned by the same ministry.
Shalumbu was reportedly on Enercon’s payroll since 2019, initially earning N$10 000 per month. However, his salary was increased to N$40 000 after Victor Malima - now a fugitive from justice - and Austin Elindi joined the company’s board.
Responding to queries, Shalumbu confirmed receiving payments from Enercon, but defended the arrangement:
“The CEO of August 26 Holding was seconded to Enercon as a shareholder representative by the August 26 Holding board of directors. It was in that capacity that the payments were made,” he said.
He declined to answer further questions, including those seeking clarity on the nature of the secondment or what his responsibilities at Enercon entailed to justify the N$40 000 remuneration.
Brigadier General Fillimon Shafashike, who chaired the August 26 Holding board that allegedly approved Shalumbu’s secondment, said he could not comment until consulting the board and management.
“I will consult with the board and management of August 26 Holding to verify the information and provide clarity on the matter,” he said.
However, sources claim the August 26 board may not have been aware that Shalumbu was being paid as an Enercon executive.
Concerns reportedly arose during a salary audit at Enercon, which flagged Shalumbu’s monthly payments.
“The directors wanted to do an audit and that’s when they found out that Shalumbu was on Enercon’s payroll. From there, we just saw a letter of resignation,” one source said.
“Imagine, he was drawing a salary as CEO of August 26, and also from Enercon.”
Shalumbu recently reached a “mutual agreement” to resign from August 26 while still under suspension. He had been accused of pressuring staff at Windhoeker Maschinenfabrik (WMF) – a subsidiary of August 26 – to inflate a quotation for a single vehicle spare part to N$8 million.
The scandal, first exposed by Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda, led to Shalumbu’s suspension in December 2024.
Internal correspondence seen by Namibian Sun reveals that WMF managing director Petrus Anton and finance executive Anna Max accused Shalumbu of instructing them to fabricate a quotation and add fictitious parts to justify the inflated invoice. – [email protected]
Former August 26 Holding CEO Ndajoina Shalumbu, who recently left the company while on suspension over an alleged N$8 million spare part invoice scandal, was simultaneously earning a monthly salary of N$40 000 from Enercon Namibia.
Documents seen by Namibian Sun show that Shalumbu was listed as an “executive” at Enercon, although his specific role remains unclear. He resigned from that position in January 2024 following his appointment as a non-executive director on Enercon’s board.
In a resignation letter dated 30 January 2024, Shalumbu wrote: “I would hereby like to tender my resignation as an executive at Enercon with effect from 31 January 2024 due to the fact that I have been appointed as a non-executive director on the board of directors of Enercon. August 26 Holdings will look into the need to replace me as an executive and communicate to the board of Enercon.”
August 26 holds a 25% stake in Enercon, having paid N$15 million to become co-owner of the now scandal-hit fuel supplier. Enercon was founded by brothers Peter and Malakia Elindi, who – along with nine others – were recently arrested in connection with the Enercon-Namcor corruption saga. The shareholding was acquired after Enercon secured a 15-year contract to supply fuel to the ministry of defence. August 26 is owned by the same ministry.
Shalumbu was reportedly on Enercon’s payroll since 2019, initially earning N$10 000 per month. However, his salary was increased to N$40 000 after Victor Malima - now a fugitive from justice - and Austin Elindi joined the company’s board.
Responding to queries, Shalumbu confirmed receiving payments from Enercon, but defended the arrangement:
“The CEO of August 26 Holding was seconded to Enercon as a shareholder representative by the August 26 Holding board of directors. It was in that capacity that the payments were made,” he said.
He declined to answer further questions, including those seeking clarity on the nature of the secondment or what his responsibilities at Enercon entailed to justify the N$40 000 remuneration.
Brigadier General Fillimon Shafashike, who chaired the August 26 Holding board that allegedly approved Shalumbu’s secondment, said he could not comment until consulting the board and management.
“I will consult with the board and management of August 26 Holding to verify the information and provide clarity on the matter,” he said.
However, sources claim the August 26 board may not have been aware that Shalumbu was being paid as an Enercon executive.
Concerns reportedly arose during a salary audit at Enercon, which flagged Shalumbu’s monthly payments.
“The directors wanted to do an audit and that’s when they found out that Shalumbu was on Enercon’s payroll. From there, we just saw a letter of resignation,” one source said.
“Imagine, he was drawing a salary as CEO of August 26, and also from Enercon.”
Shalumbu recently reached a “mutual agreement” to resign from August 26 while still under suspension. He had been accused of pressuring staff at Windhoeker Maschinenfabrik (WMF) – a subsidiary of August 26 – to inflate a quotation for a single vehicle spare part to N$8 million.
The scandal, first exposed by Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda, led to Shalumbu’s suspension in December 2024.
Internal correspondence seen by Namibian Sun reveals that WMF managing director Petrus Anton and finance executive Anna Max accused Shalumbu of instructing them to fabricate a quotation and add fictitious parts to justify the inflated invoice. – [email protected]
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