Justicia Shipena
Former National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) executive Jennifer Hamukwaya has told the High Court that fuel supplier Enercon did not receive special treatment during her time at the company.
She made the statement this week in her heads of argument as she and her co-accused appeal a magistrate’s decision to deny her bail.
She was denied bail in September last year. The magistrate cited the seriousness of the case, the strength of the state’s evidence and the risk of interfering with witnesses.
Hamukwaya said Enercon was treated like any other customer and that the company made payments of more than N$10.2 million to Namcor during 2022.
In July 2022, Namcor paid N$53.2 million to Enercon to buy fuel station assets at nine Namibia Defence Force (NDF) bases.
Peter Elindi and Malakia Elindi, who are brothers, were shareholders and directors of Enercon at the time.
She said Enercon only began defaulting towards the end of that year, after which fuel supplies were stopped.
She testified that she never received money from Enercon, Erongo Petroleum or Oshali Fuel.
“I did not receive any money from Enercon, Erongo Petroleum or Oshali Fuel in my personal bank account,” she told the court.
Hamukwaya also rejected claims that N$1.45 million paid into Panduleni Farming CC amounted to gratification.
“None of the N$1.45 million paid to Panduleni Farming CC made its way to my personal bank account,” she said, adding that while she is a signatory to the account, she is neither a member nor an owner of the company, which belongs to her husband.
Hamukwaya served as executive for finance and administration until April 2023. She also chaired the credit committee.
She said the committee operated under a board-approved credit policy.
“The credit policy approved by the Namcor board gave the credit committee authority to take all credit decisions relating to customers,” she told the court.
In the payment of N$53.2 million to Enercon for bulk fuel storage assets, Hamukwaya said she acted based on approved budgets, internal memos, asset valuation reports, and a signed asset purchase agreement presented by the Namcor managing director.
“There was provision in the approved budget for asset acquisition, and all supporting documentation was in place before payment was made,” she testified.
She said she ensured due diligence was followed before releasing the funds, including verifying that the assets existed and were properly valued.
Hamukwaya argues that she cooperated with investigators, poses no flight risk and did not receive any illicit funds related to the case.
She was arrested on 8 July 2025 and faces charges of corruption, fraud, theft by false pretences, money laundering and conspiracy.
She said she was arrested at her workplace while employed as head of finance and administration at the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA).
The charges arise from transactions involving Namcor and Enercon.
Hamukwaya told the court that her continued detention amounts to punishment before trial and has caused hardship for her three children.
“I am unable to give guidance, love and support to my minor children because both my husband and I have been incarcerated,” she said.
Her legal team argues that the magistrate failed to consider her individual role and circumstances and instead applied a blanket approach to all accused persons.
Caption
Jennifer Hamukwaya
- Photo: Justicia Shipena
