Minister tears into NWR board over ‘paralysis and incompetence’
• Company’s criticized for prolonged silence on strategic issues
Among a host of issues, Daniel is demanding clarity on NWR's fuel supply deal with Enercon.
Nikanor Nangolo
WindhoekEnvironment and tourism minister Indileni Daniel has delivered a scathing rebuke of Namibia Wildlife Resorts’ (NWR) board of directors, accusing it of gross incompetence, governance failures, and allowing the state-owned tourism company to drift into “operational paralysis.”
In a hard-hitting letter dated 14 July 2025, addressed to board chairperson Haroldt /Urib, Daniel expressed her “deep disappointment” in the board’s performance and its “apparent failure to execute its fiduciary and oversight responsibilities.”
She said she had formally requested updates on a series of contentious deals – including the Sun Karros agreement, About Africa concession, Enercon fuel arrangement, and contracts with Haliburg Group and Alensy – but had received “no correspondence whatsoever” from the board.
In 2019, Sun Karros Lifestyle Safaris was said to have constructed 20 glamorous tents, a restaurant, small pool and 10 campsites at NWR’s Sesriem campsite to the tune of N$43 million.
Former NWR managing director Zelna Hengari was placed on suspension that year following allegations that she contracted the company to a public private partnership (PPP) with Sun Karros without necessary approval. Hengari was never reinstated into her job.
Controversial fuel supplier Enercon – whose owners were arrested over alleged corruption linked to Namcor’s fuel credit scheme – was contracted by Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) to supply fuel to its resorts nationwide. However, Enercon failed to honour the agreement, leading to severe fuel shortages across national parks where NWR operates.
“I must convey my deep disappointment in the board’s performance and its apparent failure to execute its fiduciary and oversight responsibilities,” Daniel wrote.
“To date, I have not been presented with the annual budget, audit reports, or an integrated strategic business plan, fundamental instruments that guide operations and ensure accountability in line with governance and regulatory frameworks.”
According to her, this lack of reporting does not only amount to non-compliance, but reflects “a concerning lack of financial and operational oversight” at a parastatal entrusted with some of Namibia’s prime tourism assets.
‘A state of paralysis’
The minister said she had been in office for over four months, but had still not received a single formal report from the NWR board on governance, operations, or finances. The vacuum of leadership, she added, was fuelling the company’s sharp decline.
“I view the prevailing inertia as placing NWR in a state of operational paralysis,” Daniel stressed.
“The continued silence regarding corrective actions for executive underperformance, coupled with the troubling situation of the company secretary acting concurrently as managing director, has compounded concerns over leadership efficacy and corporate governance.”
NWR’s company secretary Elsa Porfirio acted until recently as managing director, but she has since been replaced in that capacity by Brian Masule, the company’s chief financial officer.
“The absence of budgets, audited financials, and an integrated strategic business plan indicates not only non-compliance but a concerning lack of financial and operational oversight,” the minister wrote.
Daniel demanded that the board provide, within ten working days, the company’s latest budget, audited statements, a comprehensive strategic plan, and evidence of board resolutions addressing performance failures.
Echoes from the ground
NWR staff have hopped onto the minister’s critique, saying it reflects their lived reality inside the company. In an anonymous letter seen by Namibian Sun, employees accused the board and management of financial mismanagement, procurement interference, and operational negligence that has left resorts crippled by shortages of water, safety equipment, and even basic supplies.
“The minister’s words echo our anxieties,” the employees wrote. “She is deeply disappointed in the board’s performance – and so are we. This is not just about corporate governance; it’s about our jobs, our pensions, and our ability to feed our children.”
They demanded the immediate dismissal of the CFO and warned that criminal charges for negligence or misconduct should follow if evidence of wrongdoing is confirmed.
When contacted for comment, Masule downplayed the employee letter, describing it as the work of “detractors seeking to oust the board.” He said an official response would follow internal processes but did not provide further comment by yesterday.
The minister’s office did not respond to queries by deadline.
WindhoekEnvironment and tourism minister Indileni Daniel has delivered a scathing rebuke of Namibia Wildlife Resorts’ (NWR) board of directors, accusing it of gross incompetence, governance failures, and allowing the state-owned tourism company to drift into “operational paralysis.”
In a hard-hitting letter dated 14 July 2025, addressed to board chairperson Haroldt /Urib, Daniel expressed her “deep disappointment” in the board’s performance and its “apparent failure to execute its fiduciary and oversight responsibilities.”
She said she had formally requested updates on a series of contentious deals – including the Sun Karros agreement, About Africa concession, Enercon fuel arrangement, and contracts with Haliburg Group and Alensy – but had received “no correspondence whatsoever” from the board.
In 2019, Sun Karros Lifestyle Safaris was said to have constructed 20 glamorous tents, a restaurant, small pool and 10 campsites at NWR’s Sesriem campsite to the tune of N$43 million.
Former NWR managing director Zelna Hengari was placed on suspension that year following allegations that she contracted the company to a public private partnership (PPP) with Sun Karros without necessary approval. Hengari was never reinstated into her job.
Controversial fuel supplier Enercon – whose owners were arrested over alleged corruption linked to Namcor’s fuel credit scheme – was contracted by Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) to supply fuel to its resorts nationwide. However, Enercon failed to honour the agreement, leading to severe fuel shortages across national parks where NWR operates.
“I must convey my deep disappointment in the board’s performance and its apparent failure to execute its fiduciary and oversight responsibilities,” Daniel wrote.
“To date, I have not been presented with the annual budget, audit reports, or an integrated strategic business plan, fundamental instruments that guide operations and ensure accountability in line with governance and regulatory frameworks.”
According to her, this lack of reporting does not only amount to non-compliance, but reflects “a concerning lack of financial and operational oversight” at a parastatal entrusted with some of Namibia’s prime tourism assets.
‘A state of paralysis’
The minister said she had been in office for over four months, but had still not received a single formal report from the NWR board on governance, operations, or finances. The vacuum of leadership, she added, was fuelling the company’s sharp decline.
“I view the prevailing inertia as placing NWR in a state of operational paralysis,” Daniel stressed.
“The continued silence regarding corrective actions for executive underperformance, coupled with the troubling situation of the company secretary acting concurrently as managing director, has compounded concerns over leadership efficacy and corporate governance.”
NWR’s company secretary Elsa Porfirio acted until recently as managing director, but she has since been replaced in that capacity by Brian Masule, the company’s chief financial officer.
“The absence of budgets, audited financials, and an integrated strategic business plan indicates not only non-compliance but a concerning lack of financial and operational oversight,” the minister wrote.
Daniel demanded that the board provide, within ten working days, the company’s latest budget, audited statements, a comprehensive strategic plan, and evidence of board resolutions addressing performance failures.
Echoes from the ground
NWR staff have hopped onto the minister’s critique, saying it reflects their lived reality inside the company. In an anonymous letter seen by Namibian Sun, employees accused the board and management of financial mismanagement, procurement interference, and operational negligence that has left resorts crippled by shortages of water, safety equipment, and even basic supplies.
“The minister’s words echo our anxieties,” the employees wrote. “She is deeply disappointed in the board’s performance – and so are we. This is not just about corporate governance; it’s about our jobs, our pensions, and our ability to feed our children.”
They demanded the immediate dismissal of the CFO and warned that criminal charges for negligence or misconduct should follow if evidence of wrongdoing is confirmed.
When contacted for comment, Masule downplayed the employee letter, describing it as the work of “detractors seeking to oust the board.” He said an official response would follow internal processes but did not provide further comment by yesterday.
The minister’s office did not respond to queries by deadline.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article