Mulunga bemoans lack of govt support
Accuses ministers of being jealous over SOE bosses’ pay
The former Namcor boss says his tenure at the oil parastatal was characterised by a lack of support, mistrust and multiple attempts to get rid of him.
Axed Namcor boss Immanuel Mulunga says his journey at the oil parastatal was one characterised by a lack of support, mistrust and multiple attempts to get rid of him.
Speaking on Network TV's The Agenda on Sunday, Mulunga said he found the company “in turmoil."
Mulunga succeeded the current director general of the Namibia Planning Commission, Obeth Kandjoze, who was selected by then president Hage Geingob to become mines and energy minister.
He claimed government constantly questioned the motives of the company, while providing minimal support, despite being the primary shareholder.
“Namcor had its fair share of troubles even before I got there. The company was in turmoil; the revenues it was making were relatively small and the relationships between management and the board were not well,” he said.
More support needed
Mulunga said the company “deserved more support from the government because it is government-owned, especially after Namcor’s decision to venture into the downstream oil sector drew huge criticism from industry players who felt the oil parastatal would provide unfair competition.
“We could have gotten more support, to be honest, [but] unfortunately, due to a myriad of reasons, we never got the support we deserved from some of our shareholder ministers. We always had to struggle to put across our point, hence, I do not understand why ministers do not give SOEs the necessary support. I am not sure if it is jealousy because some feel SOE bosses get paid more than them [ministers],” he said.
Troubling beginning
Mulunga said his troubles started in 2015, immediately after he topped the CEO recruitment process. He claimed that despite emerging as a top candidate in the interviews, there was hesitancy to appoint him.
He was eventually appointed, but there was seldom a cordial relationship with the boards that were appointed during his tenure, he noted.
Mulunga said he was also perplexed by several disciplinary proceedings that were instituted against him due to investment decisions the company took during his time.
Disciplinary processes absent
Asked what he made of his suspension in April 2023, Mulunga said the development caught him off guard.
“It looks like there were background discussions to suspend me. The charges I was suspended for, did not undergo any disciplinary process. I did not think this was right because people must be subjected through a transparent process,” he said.
Mulunga is adamant that he ought to have been subjected to a disciplinary process.
He added: “To be fired in this manner creates a bad precedent, not just for me but for all other executives at parastatals."
He also denied claims that he was behind a drug bust involving former board chairperson Jennifer Comalie.
“It was odd that it happened on the day there was a board meeting. Those who know me know I’m not capable of that. Whoever did that, if they thought they did me a favour, they actually did me a disservice,” he said.
Speaking on Network TV's The Agenda on Sunday, Mulunga said he found the company “in turmoil."
Mulunga succeeded the current director general of the Namibia Planning Commission, Obeth Kandjoze, who was selected by then president Hage Geingob to become mines and energy minister.
He claimed government constantly questioned the motives of the company, while providing minimal support, despite being the primary shareholder.
“Namcor had its fair share of troubles even before I got there. The company was in turmoil; the revenues it was making were relatively small and the relationships between management and the board were not well,” he said.
More support needed
Mulunga said the company “deserved more support from the government because it is government-owned, especially after Namcor’s decision to venture into the downstream oil sector drew huge criticism from industry players who felt the oil parastatal would provide unfair competition.
“We could have gotten more support, to be honest, [but] unfortunately, due to a myriad of reasons, we never got the support we deserved from some of our shareholder ministers. We always had to struggle to put across our point, hence, I do not understand why ministers do not give SOEs the necessary support. I am not sure if it is jealousy because some feel SOE bosses get paid more than them [ministers],” he said.
Troubling beginning
Mulunga said his troubles started in 2015, immediately after he topped the CEO recruitment process. He claimed that despite emerging as a top candidate in the interviews, there was hesitancy to appoint him.
He was eventually appointed, but there was seldom a cordial relationship with the boards that were appointed during his tenure, he noted.
Mulunga said he was also perplexed by several disciplinary proceedings that were instituted against him due to investment decisions the company took during his time.
Disciplinary processes absent
Asked what he made of his suspension in April 2023, Mulunga said the development caught him off guard.
“It looks like there were background discussions to suspend me. The charges I was suspended for, did not undergo any disciplinary process. I did not think this was right because people must be subjected through a transparent process,” he said.
Mulunga is adamant that he ought to have been subjected to a disciplinary process.
He added: “To be fired in this manner creates a bad precedent, not just for me but for all other executives at parastatals."
He also denied claims that he was behind a drug bust involving former board chairperson Jennifer Comalie.
“It was odd that it happened on the day there was a board meeting. Those who know me know I’m not capable of that. Whoever did that, if they thought they did me a favour, they actually did me a disservice,” he said.
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