Defence deputy executive director Petrus Nathinge is at the centre of allegations of funds defrayed from a defence company to purportedly procure weapons destined for another country.

Although details remain foggy and highly-classified in the army world, defence sources have revealed in confidence that Nathinge and his inner circle at August 26 Holdings concocted and executed a plan that saw at least N$3 million sail out of the army company.

The money, New Era is reliably informed, was used as bid security for a tender to supply arms to an army allegedly in Uganda.

A bid security, also known as a bid bond, is a type of surety bond which is required in order to bid on certain types of contracts. It serves to protect the contracting entity from losses incurred if the winning bidder fails to fulfil their obligations under the contract.

The proceeds from the said tender, however, were to be shared among Nathinge and his alleged co-conspirators.

The said tender is worth over N$100 million.

“The general [Nathinge] and the managing director were the ones responsible for paying out the money without involving other members of management,” a person with intricate knowledge but who preferred anonymity, said.

Yesterday, he profusely denied being associated with any arms deal.

“I am not involved in any arms deal,” was Nathinge’s brief response to a text message from New Era. He chairs the August 26 Logistics board, a subsidiary of August 26 Holdings, which is owned by the Namibian Defence Force (NDF).

August 26 Holdings, the secretive NDF company, is de facto a state-owned enterprise.

However, a letter has now surfaced on social media through Affirmative Repositioning movement leader Job Amupanda, corroborating this version of events.

The letter from a company presenting itself as Penda Enterprises CC is dated 18 May 2023.

It is addressed to Nathinge.

“I am writing on behalf of Penda Enterprises CC, a company that trades in military equipment and related merchandise. I have been given [a responsibility] to carry out a classified objective, the details which I will present to you upon request, and which must be kept confidential for security reasons,” the company’s managing director Penda Shikongo wrote to Nathinge.

It would appear that August 26 Logistics acted as a funder in the questionable transaction. Shikongo continues: “Penda Enterprises is currently short of Two and a Half Million [N$2.5 million] to kickstart the project. The shortfall required latest by the afternoon of 28 May 2023. As a reputable company that has conducted business with and for government over the years, I was directed to approach you in confidence to facilitate assistance from August 26 Logistics.”

Shikongo further requested that the funds be deposited into Penda Enterprises CC’s bank account, held with First National Bank, before 26 May.

“I further promise to pay back the money into [the] August 26 Logistics’ account with not less than 100% interest before 31 July 2023,” Shikongo committed.

With interest

In another letter, seemingly implementing Shikongo’s request, Nathinge wrote to August 26 Logistics’ managing director Salatiel Ntinda on 24 May 2023.

“In my capacity as chairperson of A26L [August 26 Logistics] board, [I am] authorising you to facilitate the transfer of N$2.5 million into the account of Penda Enterprises CC… the money will be paid back into the account of A26L account with interest by the 31st of July 2023,” Nathinge commanded.

Last week, New Era reported that August 26 Logistics suspended Ntinda and chief financial officer Kallie Nel, pending a probe into the matter.

According to insiders, power brokers in the army have for the past few weeks failed to take decisive actions against Nathinge, who is understood to be a “powerful man” within defence circles.

What is clear, however, is that August 26 Holdings is in the process of dealing with Nathinge over his involvement in the irregularities, if the statement it issued last week is to be taken at face value.

“In the same vein, the board of August 26 Holdings Company, as the appointing authority of the chairperson of the board of August 26 Logistics, has invoked the relevant legal provisions to institute the necessary proceedings against the chairperson [Nathinge] of the board of August 26 Logistics (Pty) Ltd,” reads a statement from the company.

Last Thursday, August 26 Holdings’ board chairperson, brigadier Fillemon Shafashike, confirmed the commencement of a full-blown probe into the incident. 

The Presidency yesterday refused to be drawn into the August 26 fracas.

“There’s a line minister. You must speak to the line ministers, [Frans] Kapofi and [Iipumbu] Shiimi,” presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari responded.

As Head of State, President Hage Geingob is the commander-in-chief of the NDF.

Kapofi could not respond as he was attending a National Assembly session.

-emumbuu@nepc.com.na