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Defence company sued

Defence company sued

A NAMIBIAN company has been doing a thriving business in supplying its armoured Werewolf vehicle to American forces in Iraq, it has emerged from newly filed court documents.

None of these deals by a subsidiary of August 26, Windhoeker Maschinen Fabrik Pty Ltd (WMF), were publicly reported by either August 26 or WMF, despite the positive publicity it could have generated for Namibian know-how and technological expertise. But in a High Court summons served on WMF by anti-landmine consultant Humanitarian Engineering Consulting CC (HEC) last week, HEC demanded N$478 000 in unpaid commission on one such deal.HEC alleged that WMF was in breach of an agreement on the sale of four Werewolf armoured vehicles at a price of US$386 000 (about N$2,392 million) each.August 26 is an investment arm of the Ministry of Defence.Copies of a Memorandum of Understanding and a Sales Referral Agreement reached between HEC and WMF and attached to the summons, showed HEC appeared to have initiated one such deal with the US Army Corps of Engineers on June 10 last year.HEC, a Research and Development consultancy based in Windhoek, had relayed a request from the US Army Corps of Engineers in Baghdad, Iraq, for the rental of three to nine Werewolves, according to documents submitted to court.This request could lead to many more vehicles being ordered from WMF, it was further noted in the Sales Referral Agreement.According to the agreement, HEC would be entitled to “a five per cent commission to be paid on all successful sales to WMF clients from leads generated by HEC”.WMF had sold four Werewolves, with air-conditioning and run-flat tyres, at a price of US$368 000 (about N$2,392 million) apiece, on which a commission of N$478 000 was due to them, HEC said in its summons.It also applied for interest due on this amount, as well the costs of the lawsuit.WMF, HEC and the US Department of Defence have closely co-operated for nearly 10 years in developing anti-landmine technology, mostly based on that of the Casspir and Wolf armoured vehicles used by South African forces during Namibia’s liberation war.It is not known whether WMF or its holding company, August 26, intends opposing the suit.* John Grobler is a freelance journalist; 081 240 1587But in a High Court summons served on WMF by anti-landmine consultant Humanitarian Engineering Consulting CC (HEC) last week, HEC demanded N$478 000 in unpaid commission on one such deal.HEC alleged that WMF was in breach of an agreement on the sale of four Werewolf armoured vehicles at a price of US$386 000 (about N$2,392 million) each.August 26 is an investment arm of the Ministry of Defence.Copies of a Memorandum of Understanding and a Sales Referral Agreement reached between HEC and WMF and attached to the summons, showed HEC appeared to have initiated one such deal with the US Army Corps of Engineers on June 10 last year. HEC, a Research and Development consultancy based in Windhoek, had relayed a request from the US Army Corps of Engineers in Baghdad, Iraq, for the rental of three to nine Werewolves, according to documents submitted to court.This request could lead to many more vehicles being ordered from WMF, it was further noted in the Sales Referral Agreement.According to the agreement, HEC would be entitled to “a five per cent commission to be paid on all successful sales to WMF clients from leads generated by HEC”.WMF had sold four Werewolves, with air-conditioning and run-flat tyres, at a price of US$368 000 (about N$2,392 million) apiece, on which a commission of N$478 000 was due to them, HEC said in its summons.It also applied for interest due on this amount, as well the costs of the lawsuit.WMF, HEC and the US Department of Defence have closely co-operated for nearly 10 years in developing anti-landmine technology, mostly based on that of the Casspir and Wolf armoured vehicles used by South African forces during Namibia’s liberation war.It is not known whether WMF or its holding company, August 26, intends opposing the suit.* John Grobler is a freelance journalist; 081 240 1587

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