Renthia Kaimbi
An anonymous whistleblower complaint reportedly submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has raised allegations of corruption, nepotism, favouritism and governance irregularities at the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) during the tenure of former chief executive officer Nangula Uaandja.
The complaint, dated 5 May 2026 and seen by this publication, contains a series of allegations relating to recruitment, procurement, promotions and management decisions at the institution between 2021 and 2025.
The allegations have not been independently verified and no findings have been made by the ACC or any court.
According to the complaint, Uaandja, who left NIPDB last year, allegedly presided over a work environment where promotions and opportunities were influenced by personal loyalty. The whistleblower further claims that a number of employees resigned or left the organisation during her tenure.
One allegation concerns the recruitment of Tinus Fourie, who the complaint claims was appointed to positions at NIPDB without a public advertisement or interview process. The complaint further alleges that a consultant position later occupied by Fourie was created specifically for him and did not form part of the approved organisational structure.
The complaint also questions NIPDB’s use of The Rock Lodge for strategic workshops and the use of the African Leadership Institute for employee training. The whistleblower alleges that these arrangements may have presented potential conflicts of interest because of relationships involving individuals linked to the institutions. No evidence supporting these claims was attached to the complaint.
Another allegation relates to a Mercedes-Benz vehicle leased by NIPDB in 2021. The whistleblower claims Uaandja later purchased the vehicle from the leasing company at the end of her contract for a price below its market value. The complaint argues that the transaction warrants further scrutiny. No finding has been made by any authority regarding the transaction.
The complaint also raises concerns about the leasing of NIPDB’s head office building, Investment House, in Windhoek. It questions the procurement process and calls for an investigation into whether all requirements of the Public Procurement Act were followed.
Questions are also raised about the appointment and promotion of several NIPDB employees. The whistleblower alleges that some appointments and promotions were made without competitive recruitment processes and were influenced by personal relationships. These allegations remain unproven.
The complaint further alleges that former employees were reluctant to publicly raise concerns due to fears that doing so could affect future employment opportunities.
The whistleblower has called for an independent review of recruitment practices, employee qualifications, procurement processes and the operations of the human resources and finance departments.
ACC director general Paulus Noa told the Windhoek Observer on Monday that he was not aware of the complaint and could not comment on its contents.
“I have no knowledge of such a report. Get in touch with our PRO so she can confirm with the unit of investigations. I’m not in a position to give you correct information at the moment,” Noa said.
NIPDB senior manager for marketing, branding and communications Catherine Shipushu acknowledged awareness of the allegations but said the institution could not comment on anonymous claims.
“At this stage, these remain anonymous allegations, and the NIPDB is therefore not in a position to comment on these allegations. The NIPDB subscribes to the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and corporate governance. Accordingly, we view any allegations of misconduct extremely serious and will give the required level of consideration once formally received through the appropriate channels,” said Shipushu.
