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Fuelgate: Elindi blames Namcor for faulty asset valuation

Fuelgate: Elindi blames Namcor for faulty asset valuation

Justicia Shipena Businessman Peter Elindi told the Windhoek Magistrates’ Court on Monday that he should not be blamed for the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor)’s internal asset valuation, which the state claims was flawed. “It’s not my problem if they did a bad job,” Peter said in his evidence-in-chief with his lawyer, Sisa Namandje. Elindi was testifying in his bail application in the ongoing N$480 million Namcor corruption and bribery case. He distanced himself from a valuation conducted by Namcor’s engineering and technical department, which the state has labelled a “sham”. Namandje referred to court documents alleging that the…
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Fuelgate: Namcor millions powered Elindi son’s firm

Fuelgate: Namcor millions powered Elindi son’s firm

Justicia Shipena Some of the funds misappropriated in the Namcor corruption and bribery case were used to finance operations of a company owned by the son of one of the Elindi brothers. This was revealed in court as the state laid out charges against Leo Nandago Stefanus, one of the accused in the high-profile money laundering and corruption case involving millions of dollars. The state alleges that the funds were used to support the activities of Erongo Petroleum CC and Quality Supplies CC.  Erongo Petroleum is owned by Austin Elindi, son of businessman Peter Elindi, who has also been arrested…
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FuelGate: Enercon faces collapse

FuelGate: Enercon faces collapse

Justicia Shipena  Enercon Namibia (Pty) Ltd has until 22 July to convince the High Court why it should not be liquidated over unpaid fuel debts to Namcor, just weeks before the company and its directors were charged in a multi-million-dollar corruption and racketeering case.  The military-linked fuel supplier, partly owned by the Ministry of Defence through August 26 Holdings, is now at the centre of one of the country's biggest public sector corruption scandals. Established in 2007, Enercon operates in fuel supply, construction of storage facilities, petroleum distribution, and fuel management. It operates in the fuel supply sector, focusing on…
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Oil trails Namcor alumni in bribe web

Oil trails Namcor alumni in bribe web

Justicia Shipena Four of the eight individuals arrested this week by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on corruption charges are former employees of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor). The remaining four are private individuals. An ACC official confirmed the arrests to the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday after three more suspects were taken into custody.  The eight suspects are accused of violating several sections of the Anti-Corruption Act, including sections 32 to 35. These provisions relate to public officials abusing their position or giving bribes to officials. “For those that were arrested now, four are former employees and four are…
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ACC eats its words on Mulunga

ACC eats its words on Mulunga

Allexer Namundjembo The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which last year praised former Namcor managing director Immanuel ‘Imms’ Mulunga for saving the company and the country, has now arrested him on potential corruption-related charges.  His arrest, according to sources, stems from a 2023 oil transaction involving N$100 million, which led to his suspension and eventual dismissal. Mulunga was arrested on Tuesday afternoon at his home in Klein Windhoek.  ACC director general Paulus Noa confirmed the arrest and said further arrests are expected.  “He is yet to be charged. Mind you, he is not the only one; there are others. There could be…
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NaCC rules Cheetah-Ohorongo deal a no-go

NaCC rules Cheetah-Ohorongo deal a no-go

Justicia Shipena The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) has blocked the proposed merger between Whale Rock Cement, trading as Cheetah Cement, and Schwenk Namibia, the parent company of Ohorongo Cement. The decision was announced on Friday, 4 July 2025, following an investigation into the acquisition filed on 17 February 2025. Whale Rock Cement had applied to acquire the entire issued share capital in Schwenk Namibia from Schwenk Zement International GmbH & Co. KG. Whale Rock Cement owns and operates a cement plant near Otjiwarongo and supplies the domestic market under the Cheetah Cement brand. Schwenk Namibia holds a controlling interest in…
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Namcor still in the red after N$1.2 billion state lifeline

Namcor still in the red after N$1.2 billion state lifeline

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) remains in financial trouble despite receiving a N$1.2 billion government bailout in April 2024.  The company confirmed that liquidity problems persist and more support may be needed to settle outstanding debts. Namcor’s board and management said the bailout was used to access commercial loans, which were mostly used to pay off overdue creditors.  “Liquidity challenges remain persistent, and support may be required to clear the remaining long outstanding creditors balances,” the company stated. By March 2024, Namcor’s total debt stood at N$3.3 billion.  The bailout helped reduce this to N$1.6 billion.…
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State funeral moratorium leaves Presidential powers untouched

State funeral moratorium leaves Presidential powers untouched

Justicia Shipena The Cabinet has placed a moratorium on official funerals from 16 June 2025 to 31 March 2026.  The move allows the government to review the current criteria and processes for granting such honours. Minister of information and communication technology Emma Theofelus announced the decision on Thursday, following the 11th Cabinet meeting.  “This moratorium will remain in place while a detailed review is conducted on how official funerals are awarded,” she said. Theofelus said the suspension does not affect the President’s constitutional powers to confer national honours.  “The moratorium does not infringe on Article 32(3)(h) of the Namibian Constitution,…
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Toll gate proposal stuck in approval gridlock

Toll gate proposal stuck in approval gridlock

Allexer Namundjembo The plan to introduce toll gates on major roads across the country remains stalled, with no significant progress reported.  The Road Fund Administration (RFA) has confirmed that the project is still undergoing internal approvals and has not moved to the public rollout stage. “There is no progress on tolling yet. The matter is still receiving internal process approvals first. An update will be provided to the public in time,” said RFA chief executive officer Ali Ipinge in response to an inquiry by the Windhoek Observer. The toll gate proposal was first introduced in 2021 and aimed to install…
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NNN tightens travel approval rules for governors

NNN tightens travel approval rules for governors

Allexer Namundjembo Regional governors will now need approval from the Office of the President to be able to travel to attend official events across the country. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced the directive at State House during the appointment of seven new regional governors yesterday. She said the move aims to curb the unnecessary use of state resources on events that do not benefit the public. “I have observed governors travelling and officiating events that do not benefit the people of their regions. From now on, their approvals will come from my office. I have already sent a memo to all…
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