Allexer Namundjembo
The Lüderitz Waterfront Development Company faces allegations of awarding tenders and hiring workers without following transparent procedures.
According to sources, the replacement of renovation contractor Nexus with Nawa Nawa without an advertised tender demonstrates the practice of granting tenders without public announcements and avoiding competitive bidding.
Additionally, workers, especially cleaners, are reportedly hired without interviews or public vacancy announcements, with many coming from outside Lüderitz.
This has raised concerns about favouritism and unfair hiring practices.
“The security company has been there for 15 years. What contract is that that lasts for 15 years? If you go there today, most of the cleaners in there were brought in from other towns, without job vacancy announcements,” the source said.
A local business owner, requesting anonymity for fear of potential discrimination in future tenders, expressed frustration.
“It is concerning that these tenders and job opportunities are not being advertised. There is no clear process or accountability, and this leaves local businesses and qualified candidates at a disadvantage,” said the businessperson.
These accusations are not new.
In 2018, the former public enterprises minister Leon Jooster wrote a letter to the company’s management questioning these allegations, which also included the CEO contract.
“It is being alleged that the company does not comply with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, and as minister responsible for corporate governance, and in line with Section 24 of the Public Enterprises Governance Act of 2006, you are hereby required to furnish my office with the required information,” Jooste wrote.
The minister also questioned why the company lacks performance management, human resources, travel, and subsistence allowance policies.
At the time, Jooste also requested copies of the CEO’s contract, human resources and travel, and the subsistence allowance policy.
He also requested the appointment letter for the company’s procurement committee and all supporting documents, as well as the tenders awarded.
The waterfront’s CEO, Fluksman Samuehl, declined to comment on the questions sent to him.
“I would like to inform you that we have scheduled a meeting tomorrow with the group that sent allegations against Luderitz Waterfront to you,” he said.
He added that he is not at liberty to go into details about allegations levelled against the company until he speaks to the group directly.