Justicia Shipena
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has this week revealed that it arrested four people in two separate cases involving subsidy fraud and alleged corruption in a government job interview process.
In the first case, the ACC arrested Muleihi Moscow Neo, a 41-year-old senior agricultural technician at the Omamishu Agricultural Office in Eengodi Constituency, along with Panduleni Hamunime, a 47-year-old resident of Okadiva Village. The matter stems from a 2017 government weeding subsidy scheme payment made to the Ndemutalelapo Supporting Group.
ACC’s interim spokesperson Marina Matundu said Neo created false vouchers to inflate the group’s subsidy from N$7 500 to N$18 000.
He then used the group’s bank account to access the extra N$10 500, which he later shared with Hamunime.
Neo’s duties included verifying and submitting subsidy claims.
The ACC alleges he told the group, through Hamunime, to withdraw the full amount once the subsidy was paid and to hand over the N$10 500.
He allegedly claimed the money had been mistakenly paid into their account as his own private funds.
Hamunime, who served as the group’s secretary, is accused of misleading members by saying the money was meant to cover funeral costs for a relative.
Neo faces 14 counts under section 43(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act for corruptly using his position for gratification, or alternatively 14 counts of fraud.
Both men also face money-laundering charges under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act and a conspiracy charge under the Riotous Assemblies Act.
They appeared in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on 14 November 2025 and were granted N$5 000 bail each. Their case returns to court on 5 March 2026.
In the second case, the ACC arrested interview panel member Jona Mbuna Kangumbe and shortlisted candidate Fatima Panduleni Ndawedwa over alleged corrupt practices during the interview process for the post of Control Administrative Officer in the Okankolo Constituency.
The allegations stem from interviews held on 11 and 12 October 2023.
The ACC says Kangumbe sent interview questions via SMS to Ndawedwa while interviews were still underway.
The commission also says he failed to disclose a personal relationship with her, a relationship that resulted in the birth of a child.
According to Matundu, the undisclosed conflict of interest compromised the fairness of the hiring process.
Matundu said the conduct “undermined the integrity of the recruitment process and disadvantaged other candidates who participated in good faith.”
Kangumbe was arrested in Rundu and faces one count under section 43(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act for corruptly using his position for gratification, or alternatively a count under section 35(3)(b) for using a false document as an agent.
He is also charged under section 34 for corruptly giving gratification.
Ndawedwa was arrested in Oshikango and faces one count under section 33 for corruptly accepting gratification.
Both appeared in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on 18 November 2025 and were granted N$5,000 bail each.
Their case was postponed to 25 February 2026 for legal representation.
