National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) supply and logistics manager Cornelius ‘Cedric’ Willemse has resigned from the parastatal, citing personal reasons.
Namcor’s spokesperson Utaara Hoveka has confirmed Willemse’s resignation.
Hoveka says Willemse’s last working day was Wednesday, 15 November.
In a telephone interview with The Namibian last Friday, Willemse said working for Namcor “has become a circus”.
His notice of resignation was submitted on 9 October to Namcor’s acting managing director Shiwana Ndeunyema.
“My resignation is for personal reasons. More than four senior people resigned at Namcor in recent months,” he said.
Willemse recently faced accusations of dipping into oil reserves worth N$69 million at Namcor’s oil storage facility at Walvis Bay. That oil belonged to businessman Mathew Hamutenya’s company, Validus Energy.
He denies this was a factor in his resignation.
“There was nothing untoward … it was just propaganda. Borrowing or loaning of products is an industry practice and you can verify it.
“Furthermore, stock is co-mingled in tanks and, therefore, the idea that the stock was stolen is simply ludicrous, as stock entitlements are reported daily,” Willemse said.
“The point is evident from the fact that no action was taken against me. What the motivation was for certain persons who rank the interests of a hosted company above those of Namcor, to say otherwise, is ill conceived. The issue was resolved and we have moved on from that,” he said.
Four other employees have resigned from Namcor since the suspension of the company’s managing director Immanuel Mulunga. They are Paula Kimm, Olivia Dunaiski, Rachel Msiska and Jerome Davis.
Willemse and Mulunga are longtime friends and Willemse believes Mulunga remains the right man to run Namcor.
“Mulunga built a strong foundation at Namcor, of which the current team are building on. Over the past four years, through our dedication and collective efforts, especially from the downstream business unit, Namcor revenue increased from N$700 million to about N$7,4 billion,” he said.
“We have always had a good professional relationship and I am still of the view that Mulunga is the right man for the job at Namcor and that he will be vindicated in due course.
“We did our very best for Namcor amid tough challenges and tough competition,” said Willemse.
Willemse has previously worked for Namcor in different capacities. From 2007 to 2012, he worked as the executive of supply and logistics, and between January 2012 and February 2013 as a logistics manager until a Namcor board of directors – led by Patrick Kauta – terminated his contract in 2016 despite objections from Mulunga.
The Namibian reported in 2017 that the Willemse-Mulunga friendship was one of the reasons that caused a clash between Mulunga and Kauta.
In 2018, Mulunga brought Willemse back for a N$1,3 million contract as a consultant.
Willemse said Namcor’s challenges will be overcome.
“The continued uncertainty around the leadership at Namcor is obviously not good for the company and the country.
“Challenges facing the company will definitely be overcome soon. The focus should be on Namcor, not on the individuals.”
Mulunga said he is aware of Willemse’s resignation.
“I am aware. He is a very experienced industry professional, that’s why I hired him and brought him back after he was fired by Kauta.
“He was very instrumental in building the Namcor downstream business under my leadership,” Mulunga said.
The downstream business has 16 service stations which are fully owned by Namibians.
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