Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) has rejected claims made by Affirmative Repositioning movement leader Job Amupanda that the organisation is selling off its lodges.
The controversy erupted when Amupanda took to social media, claiming that NWR was planning to sell 14 resorts or lodges belonging to government via NWR. This sparked concerns among NWR employees.
Amupanda said deals are already underway. “As a start, they will claim a consultant, whom they will pay millions,” he said in a widely-circulated social media post.
In an official statement released yesterday, NWR managing director Mathias Ngwangwama said there is no truth to the allegations. “I want to assure all staff members that there are no plans to sell or hand over any NWR resorts or lodges. These claims are not based on facts and should not cause any distress among our valued employees,” he stated.
He acknowledged that there is an exercise that aims to conduct an in-depth review of under-performing properties to determine ways to improve their efficiency, profitability and overall sustainability.
Amupanda, however, stood by his words after the statement, calling for greater transparency within the organisation.
In an official company WhatsApp group, NWR spokesperson Nelson Ashipala refuted the claims. The reports come at a time when NWR recorded profits of N$46 million for the 2023/24 financial year.
This marked a significant turnaround from a loss of N$35 million in 2022.
The impressive financial results were attributed to increased revenue from accommodation, food and beverages, as well as other tourism-related activities.
Despite challenges such as rising inflation and fuel costs, NWR managed to keep operational expenses in check, increasing by only 7%. The organisation has focused on maintaining and upgrading its facilities, ensuring a high-quality experience for visitors. Overall, NWR’s financial health is better than ever, demonstrating resilience and effective management.