Sostenus Wilherm
TransNamib is facing claims of unpaid work after businessman Rodney Hanganda accused the state-owned railway company of failing to settle an invoice of N$ 851 000.02 for construction and fuel infrastructure work he says was completed under a contract with the company.
Hanganda told the Windhoek Observer on Monday that TransNamib paid him for several components of the work, but one invoice was rejected over concerns about how the work had been completed, leaving him out of pocket for the disputed structure.
His account has been partly corroborated by former TransNamib health and safety officer Dawid Tjombe told the Windhoek Observer that the work was awarded to Hanganda and that the final invoice submitted during his time at the company had not been processed for payment.
Tjombe, who has since retired from TransNamib, said he could no longer remember all the details of the project but was able to confirm that the invoice had remained unpaid when he left the company.
“What I can confirm is yes, the last invoice he submitted was not yet processed for payment,” Tjombe said, adding that the invoice was rejected after an inspection found that some of the required work had not been completed.
“When I assess or inspect, it was unfinished work done. He was supposed to complete the requirements based on the site inspection conducted. The invoice was rejected for any payment until he completes what we have assigned to him during site inspection,” he said.
Tjombe said the project was later placed on hold by TransNamib management, with the disputed invoice still unpaid when he departed the company.
“In between the whole project was put on halt by TransNamib Management and ended there without any payment of that particular invoice during my time, then I left the company,” he said.
He further confirmed that he personally rejected the invoice pending completion of the outstanding work, saying the decision was linked to the requirements identified during the site inspection.
“That part I can confirm. It was rejected by me for him to complete,” Tjombe said.
Hanganda said the contract covered a range of projects, including the construction of a small building for a diesel pump in Tsumeb, temporary fuel pumps in Tsumeb, Otjiwarongo and Walvis Bay, repairs to fuel tanks and surrounding structures, as well as repairs to a truck washbay.
He also claims that his company was tasked with removing two main fuel tanks holding more than 80 000 litres, demolishing concrete structures, dewatering the area, removing underground tanks and excavating contaminated soil.
According to Hanganda, approximately 1 000 cubic metres of G5 material was transported from Walvis Bay Airport for filling, while compaction work was conducted and submitted to TransNamib’s Health and Safety department.
“All that was paid in full,” Hanganda said, referring to the work he claims was completed before construction of the disputed structure began.
Hanganda alleges that once the area was approved for construction, TransNamib gave him the go-ahead to proceed but later stopped the project while construction was underway.
He said TransNamib subsequently brought in a team to inspect the work before paying other invoices. Hanganda claims the inspection team was led by High Court Acting Judge Collins Parker and recommended payment for completed work.
The businessman alleges that one invoice was nevertheless not processed after concerns were raised that the concrete floor did not contain joining lines.
He further claims that environmental officials also raised concerns over the absence of the joining lines and instructed him to cut them into the concrete floor.
Hanganda said he continued working on the structure and attempted to resolve the dispute without involving lawyers. He claims former TransNamib executive Johnny Smith later entered into a settlement agreement with him and paid approximately N$5.6 million for work already completed.
“Mr Johny Smith then went into a settlement agreement with me because he asked me not to involve any lawyers in and he paid close to 5.6 million on work done,” Hanganda said.
He maintains, however, that the disputed building remains unpaid and argues that he effectively funded its construction himself.
“I used my money to build that structure and it remains mine until fully paid,” he said.
Hanganda said he intends to pursue the matter through legal channels and may approach the minister responsible for TransNamib after consulting his legal team.
He also accused TransNamib management of spending money on lawyers rather than resolving what he considers an outstanding payment.
Tjombe said he could not recall the value of the disputed invoice, indicating that Hanganda would be in a position to provide the amount.
The Windhoek Observer has approached the executive secretary of TransNamib Kaunapawa Namugongo for comment on the contract, payments made, the disputed invoice, the reasons for its rejection and the current status of the matter. She did not respond to the questions at the time of publication.
