The Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) has placed its finance and administration head, Jennifer Hamukwaya on unpaid leave following her arrest in a major corruption case involving Namcor and Enercon.
Hamukwaya, who previously held the finance executive position at Namcor before her contentious departure, was arrested at the NQA offices on 8 July. Last week, she was denied bail by the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court and faces nearly three months in custody if not released soon.
Despite her detention, NQA insiders confirm that Hamukwaya remains formally employed. “She is still on the payroll. The NQA council has yet to make a final decision on her employment status. The unpaid leave follows the Labour Act procedures,” an official revealed.
Requests for comment from NQA acting CEO Harmony Beukes were not responded to.
On a related note, the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP), where Hamukwaya serves as a board member, has referred her status to Health Minister Esperance Luvindao. NIP CEO Kapena Tjombonde explained, “According to Section 9 of the Public Enterprise Governance Act, 2019, the line minister appoints and can remove board members, so the decision lies with the minister.”
Questions sent to Minister Luvindao remained unanswered as the story went to print.
The state alleges Hamukwaya received approximately N$1.45 million from May 2022 to May 2023 from companies engaged with Namcor, such as Enercon, Erongo Petroleum, and Oshali Fuel Centre. Some payments reportedly passed through her husband’s business, Panduleni Farming CC.
She is further accused of authorizing fuel supplies to these companies despite exceeding their approved credit limits, a move prosecutors say caused significant losses to Namcor. Her husband, Panduleni Hamukwaya, was also arrested and remains detained.
