Iuze Mukube

Former Namcor executive Jennifer Hamukwaya has dismissed allegations of self-enrichment related to her appointment as a signatory to a joint bank account between Namcor and Enercon.

Speaking during her bail hearing last Friday in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court, Hamukwaya claimed that her actions were aligned with a strategic objective between the two entities to ensure smooth operations.

She said she was never involved in the negotiations, discussion or conclusion of the fuel supply purchase agreement between Namcor and Enercon.

She stated that when the fuel supply agreement was signed, she was given authority as an authorised signatory in her capacity as executive finance to protect the interests of Namcor.

Hamukwaya added that at no point did she benefit personally from that agreement.

She stated that one of the conditions of the fuel supply agreement was that when money is transferred from the defence ministry for the supply of petroleum products purchased from Namcor, the ministry pays the money into the Enercon account, and then Enercon pays to Namcor.

This was to secure those funds so that they would not be used for any other purpose other than the purchase of fuel from Namcor to Enercon.

Hamukwaya said that, as per this arrangement, making her a co-signatory with a representative from Enercon on the joint account, she was to ensure accountability and transparency for all transactions in line with the agreement.

Her appointment to the joint account has been a key focal point in the State’s case. 

The State alleges that between May 2022 and May 2023, Hamukwaya received N$1.4 million from Enercon, Erongo Petroleum and Oshali Fuel Centre through Panduleni Farming, an entity held by her husband Panduleni Hamukwaya. 

This was whilst she was an employee at Namcor.

Additionally, it is alleged that she corruptly authorised the supply of petroleum products to the entities listed, which resulted in the actual loss of N$274.3 million.

It is further alleged that she defrauded Namcor by pretending that she had the authority to authorise the payment for the purchase of the nine service stations.

She reportedly did so without the authority of the board for the purchase because it exceeded the threshold of N$25 million for which board approval was required.

Hence, the means of this misrepresentation induced Namcor to act on its prejudice to pay N$53 million.

Additionally, Hamukwaya allegedly corruptly used her office or position as an employee of Namcor, abused her authority and approved the supply of fuel beyond the credit limit to Enercon and Erongo Petroleum.

 This resulted in a loss of N$274.3 million.

The state further alleged that Hamukwaya indirectly received N$500 000 as a form of proceeds of unlawful activities and money laundering when she paid N$53 million to Enercon for the purchase of assets.

Moreover, it is alleged that she conspired with her fellow members at Namcor, including Immanuel Mulunga and Cornelius Willemse, as well as representatives of Enercon, Erongo Petroleum and Eco Fuels to commit the offence of fraud, theft by false pretences and money laundering.

Hamukwaya denied these allegations, arguing that her involvement in the joint account was a control mechanism, necessitated by the need for Namcor to monitor fund flows.

She added that her signature did not unlock payments for her benefit, because immediately when Enercon transferred money into that account, it was paid to Namcor in every transaction that they did. She said the allegation that she conspired with other Namcor employees to supply fuel for free was misleading, because every time the joint account was credited, it was debited, so that money flowed to Namcor Trading.

“I said, therefore, those two statements were false and misleading, and that is what is leading to the public outcry, which is void of truth,” Hamukwaya stated.

She said that evidence was before the court that Namcor was paid the money it received from Enercon each time a purchase of fuel was made.

The matter was postponed to 1 August 2025 for bail hearing continuation. 

–mukubeiuze@gmail.com