Renthia Kaimbi
A municipal tender in Tsumeb has drawn scrutiny after it was awarded to a company previously linked to the chairperson of the municipality’s management committee, Sem Nghuulikwa.
Sources who spoke to the Windhoek Observer raised concerns over the award to Kweni-Pewa Trading CC, citing Nghuulikwa’s past involvement with the company.
A founding statement seen by the Windhoek Observer lists Nghuulikwa as a witness during the company’s registration.
In a declaration dated 20 February 2026, Nghuulikwa confirmed his past role.
“I confirm that during the year 2023, I assisted Kweni-Pewa Trading CC with business registration services. My name appears on the entity’s founding documents (CCI) as a witness during the registration process. Subsequent to registration, I provided tendering and administrative support services to the company until approximately late 2025. During that period, I received 50% of proceeds/dividends from projects secured through such services.”
He said he is no longer involved with the company and is committed to stepping away from any related processes.
“I undertake to recuse myself from any procurement processes, discussions, evaluations, or decisions involving Kweni-Pewa Trading CC, or any related entities, should such matters arise,” said Nghuulikwa.
The concerns relate to a tender for repair work valued at about N$40 000.
Tsumeb’s acting chief executive officer Frans Enkali said Nghuulikwa has no role in awarding tenders and councillors are not part of evaluation processes.
“According to what we have, he has got nothing to do with that company. He only facilitated, before he became a councillor, the registration of that company. He has his own company. He only facilitated that time and signed as a witness (on the founding statement), but he’s not part of that company,” he said.
Enkali said the arrangement where Nghuulikwa received proceeds has ended.
“We should just be able to present the problem as it is. These are things that people are against each other… but we are looking into that thing; that’s why I’m telling you that I have a document on my table where he even declared that since that time, he has never been part of that company,” he said.
He added that the company had tendered with the municipality before Nghuulikwa became a councillor.
“It’s not that it started now that he’s a councillor. And again, he is not part of any process of procurement. Councillors are nowhere to be seen,” he said.
Enkali said tender evaluations are handled by an independent committee made up of officials from other municipalities and town councils.
“Unless someone can give us the information that he had an influence on something (procurement) at some level, I don’t know, because those that are doing tender evaluation are a different team. Before people look for proper information, they start already spreading rumours, and that is how we are destroying this country… What we are picking up is that people are fighting personal fights and we are not interested,” he said.
Nghuulikwa also declared that he owns Adolfie Trading CC, a company registered in 2016 that has not done business with the municipality and is inactive.
Chairperson of the procurement committee Glenn Kearns declined to comment and referred questions to the CEO.
