Prosecutor general sends N$50-million bribery case involving Xinfeng Investments back for further investigation

Prosecutor general Martha Imalwa says her office has sent the docket of a bribery case involving N$50 million back to the police for further investigation.

The case involves Chinese lithium miner Xinfeng Investments.

The company allegedly paid a N$50-million bribe to secure access to a lithium mining concession previously held by Karlowa Mining Enterprises.

According to Imalwa, the case involves a prosecution-guided investigation.

“The docket was sent to our office for that purpose, but was sent back to the investigation officer to carry out further investigations in the matter. My office has no power to arrest,” she says.

The investigation into the matter is being handled by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

ACC director general Paulus Noa says the case is under active investigation but has declined to provide details.

“There is an investigation into the matter. Unfortunately, we are unable to share the finer details,” he says.

The controversy has led to the resignation of Ralph Muyamba, a former technical adviser to minister of mines and energy Tom Alweendo.

Muyamba stepped down in 2023 after the allegations became public.

Alweendo has since distanced himself from the matter, saying the ministry could not investigate Muyamba following his resignation.

However, Alweendo reported Muyamba to the ACC, citing administrative irregularities.

Other individuals implicated in the case include Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs historian Timoteus Mashuna, mines ministry geologist Ndili Benyamen, and Muyamba’s cousins, Peter Shifwaku and Joseph Muyamba.

Xinfeng Investments, which now owns the lithium mine, is gaining a reputation for questionable dealings in Namibia.

Last week, the company, in a letter addressed to mining commissioner Isabella Kandjii-Chirchir, admitted to engaging in illegal mining and breaching the exploration boundaries of the EPL-8397 area.

Xinfeng described this as the result of an internal investigation that was launched after operations were suspended.

The company further appealed to the ministry for expedited approval of its long-delayed mining licence.

“Xinfeng Investments would like to tender its most sincere apologies, as this has never been our model for business conduct.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to addressing operational challenges proactively, ensuring they do not escalate into issues that could threaten our business operations,” the company said.

It said it has taken steps to resolve the findings highlighted in the investigation into its operations, adding that it remains fully compliant with the stipulated licence conditions.

Xinfeng also raised concerns about operational challenges stemming from regulatory delays.

The mining licence application, submitted six months ago, remains unapproved.

In November, the company was forced to halt mining operations, resulting in the termination of the employment of 230 to 300 workers.

“The processing plant is a volume-based operation, and interruptions drive up costs, especially in a volatile market where lithium prices have reached their lowest point in three years,” the company said.