Renthia Kaimbi
A leadership dispute is unfolding at the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), where board chairperson Florentia Amuenje and interim managing director Maureen Hinda-Mbuende are at odds over the future of the top executive post.
Hinda-Mbuende’s six-month contract ends on Friday, one day after applications close for a substantive managing director. She was appointed after former acting MD Victoria Sibeya was removed in August 2025, five months into her tenure.
Sources within Namcor claim Amuenje has made it clear that Hinda-Mbuende will not be reappointed beyond her initial term.
Insiders say the chairperson has already identified a preferred candidate and plans to fast-track the recruitment process.
Questions have also been raised about the recruitment agency handling the process. Visions Consulting, led by Rudi Koekemoer, is overseeing the search for a substantive MD. When contacted, Koekemoer did not confirm whether the firm has an active contract with Namcor or any professional relationship with Amuenje or her consulting firm, Transfo Coaching and Consulting.
“I want to suggest you contact the REMCO Chair of the Board for official comments; however, I have no relationship with the chairperson, apart from the small Namibian market, and people know each other. No professional relationship that could pose conflicts of interest. I am glad you are doing proper investigative journalism to check facts,” Koekemoer said.
The Windhoek Observer could not obtain comment from the previous or current remuneration committee (REMCO) chairpersons regarding the recruitment contract.
Namcor’s human capital executive Aletha Haufiku referred questions to spokesperson Utaara Hoveka, who acknowledged receipt of the queries but did not respond further.
Staff members have described tension within the organisation. Several employees said they feel excluded from key governance decisions.
Some claim the chairperson was frequently present at Namcor’s offices before Hinda-Mbuende’s appointment, raising concerns about board involvement in daily operations.
The dispute has also affected other appointments. The recruitment of a terminal executive stalled after the interim MD and chairperson reportedly failed to agree on acandidate.
Sources allege Amuenje pushed for a preferred applicant who lacks an engineering qualification required for the post. The appointment remains unresolved.
Further scrutiny has fallen on Namcor’s executive for business strategy and performance management, Shiwana Ndeunyema, who served as acting MD from April 2023 to January 2024 after the suspension of Immanuel Mulunga.
Allegations have surfaced regarding Ndeunyema’s personal relationship with Josef Ndafediva, owner of Ndakalimwe Investments. Documents show Ndakalimwe Investments secured two contracts from Namcor, including a contract worth nearly N$29 million in May 2019 for the construction of a fuel station in Otjiwarongo. Records indicate Ndeunyema joined Namcor in February 2020, nearly a year after that award.
In November 2022, Ndakalimwe Investments received another contract linked to a high-density polyethylene pipeline project at Walvis Bay.
Namcor later failed to settle a N$13 million debt related to that project, leading to litigation. Through FB Law Chambers, the joint venture issued a seven-day ultimatum for payment and later filed papers in the High Court in November 2023. Court-ordered payments followed.
Ndeunyema confirmed the personal relationship but denied involvement in awarding the tenders.
“Yes, I acknowledge the personal relationship between Jo and me; however, his first tender was awarded a year before I even joined Namcor and the second during the tenure of Mr Mulunga, which was way before my acting tenure at Namcor,” he said. He also addressed speculation that the timing of the allegations relates to the MD recruitment process.
“I really don’t understand what the fuss is this time around when I didn’t apply for the position the first time it was advertised last year,” he stated.
Sources say the leadership tensions have slowed decision-making at the corporation at a time when stability is needed.
Amuenje and Hinda-Mbuende had not responded to questions at the time of publication despite repeated follow-ups by the Windhoek Observer.
