Nekundi denies favouritism after warning Namport against sidelining the president’s son’s company 

Transport minister Veikko Nekundi has warned Namport bosses not to take business away from a company co-owned by president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s son.

Ministry of Works and Transport sources say the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has complained that it stands to lose about N$20 million in annual income if it cannot bring in another operator to compete with the president’s son’s company.

Nekundi is said to have made this intervention at an early-morning meeting with Namport board members and executives on 13 January.

Namport, at the same time, was in talks with a South African company to operate near the same area of the port used by Tradeport Namibia.

Tradeport is co-owned by the president’s son, Nande Ndaitwah, known as ‘Tate Nande’, and his South African partners.

The company exports manganese and provides other port-related services.

It says its value chain creates over 400 jobs, and it’s the third-highest revenue-generating entity at the Lüderitz port.

Namport has been exploring ways to increase revenue, including the talks with the South African company.

Nekundi called Namport officials to Windhoek for an urgent meeting in January at around 06h00.

According to two sources familiar with the discussions, the minister at the meeting accused Namport of trying to take business away from a Namibian operator in favour of a foreign company.

He warned Namport against decisions that could undermine local companies.

Although Nekundi didn’t mention the president’s son’s name during the meeting, two sources claim that he kept mentioning Nande’s company.

Some Namport officials allegedly left that meeting fuming, accusing the minister of interference.

“Namport has so many clients. They also have concerns that need to be addressed. Why is the minister specifically interested in that company?” a source familiar with this matter asked.

Nekundi has confirmed the meeting to The Namibian, but defends protecting a local company.

“You say no to locals and give it to a foreign company at the expense of Namibians. Do you think people from outside will care how the job is being done here?

“They will take the contract, export money and jobs out of the country. If a Namibian has the contract, then jobs and money are retained here to grow the economy,” he says.

Nekundi rejects the suggestion that he is favouring the president’s son.

“It’s not about the president’s son. It’s about value. My duty as a minister is to uphold the constitution, especially Articles 40 and 41,” he says.

The Namibian followed up with Nekundi yesterday for clarity, upon which he said: “I did not inform Namport not to take business away from the president’s son.

“My question was: Why should a state company prefer a foreign company at the expense of a local company?”

He said his responsibility is to serve the public.

“I am accountable to Namibians. I have an obligation to serve the nation without looking at who is who. My duty is to all Namibians and to implement policy directives,” the minister said.

During the same meeting, Nekundi reportedly issued a warning to Namport leadership saying: “If you are not making money, I will deal with you.”

Nekundi says these remarks were based on Namport’s role as a commercial entity.

He says the same principle applies to other state-owned commercial entities.

“These entities are commercial. They must make a profit. It’s the same thing I told the Roads Contractor Company (RCC). We have given them many projects, and now it is time for them to make money,” he says.

He said accountability will be enforced.

“If people don’t want to work, they must resign. Or we will remove you,” he says.

Nekundi has also expressed frustration with inefficiency in public institutions.

“In Oshiwambo, there is a saying: omuna ombwela moshilongo omu (There is no discipline in this country). People just do what they want while wasting government resources,” he says.

‘SAY SORRY’: NAMPORT APOLOGISES TO TRADEPORT

Tradeport Namibia specialises in transporting manganese lumpy ore, gypsum, fertiliser, lime and bonded diesel.

It operates a section of the Lüderitz port allocated by Namport.

It entered the spotlight this week when Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) leader Panduleni Itula named it as one of the companies used by the first family to control the oil sector.

The president’s sons have rejected this claim as a blatant lie.

Speculation around the president’s son’s interest in Namport started last year and escalated in January this year, including on social media.

Namport officials have also pointed to a separate incident that illustrates the sensitivity around the president’s son’s company, sources say.

At its annual port users awards in December 2025, Namport recognised its top revenue-generating companies – but erroneously excluded the president’s son’s company.

The oversight was escalated to the board, and Namport was forced to issue a public apology on social media for failing to recognise Tradeport at the ceremony.

“Due to this lapse, the company was not recognised as one of the top three revenue-generating clients at the Port of Lüderitz, despite its significant and longstanding contribution to the port’s performance,” a statement on Namport’s Facebook page on 12 December 2025 says.

The ports authority says it has corrected the error.

“We have taken corrective steps internally to prevent similar oversights in the future. Namport will also formally present the award to Tradeport Namibia Investments (Pty) Ltd at an agreed date and time.

“We appreciate Tradeport Namibia Investments (Pty) Ltd’s continued support and understanding,” Namport says.

Later, sources say Nekundi pressed Namport on the awards matter.

He was allegedy told it had been sorted out, accompanied by an apology on social media.

THE ECOSYSTEM

Nande defended his company’s operations this week.

“Like any other operator, Tradeport approached Namport with a viable business proposition, including secured customers and cargo. Namport then followed its own internal procedures to allocate the land for this purpose – a process which is not unique to Tradeport,” he said.

Nande said Tradeport plays a key role in port operations.

“It signifies the vital role Tradeport plays in the port’s ecosystem. We provide Namport with the highest cargo volumes and revenue, contributing to the port’s success just as any other operator does. A big thank you to my team,” he said.

Nande also rejected claims that his company distributes fuel at the port.

He defended Tradeport’s operational activities.

“These activities, port handling, storage, and logistics coordination, are the fundamental services any port operator provides. Tradeport is operating at Lüderitz exactly as any other legitimate operator would,” he said.

Nande said criticism is politically motivated.

“It appears as though Itula is upset about who runs this business. Who does he prefer to have run this business since 2019?”

MINI-BEEF OVER FEES

This week, Namport appeared to enter the political spat between Itula and the president, defending the president’s son’s company.

The parastatal issued a statement yesterday, saying: “Namport indeed has a business relationship with Tradeport, stretching back to 2019. It is rather unfortunate that the important Tradeport manganese business through the port is now incorrectly associated with the ongoing allegations around the oil and gas industry at the Port of Lüderitz, which it is completely not part of.”

Namport and Nekundi appear to have a mini-spat that spilled into the news in recent weeks.

Two weeks ago, weekly newspaper Confidente reported that Nekundi rejected a request for additional sitting fees for board and subcommittee meetings.

Namport chief executive Andrew Kanime wrote to Nekundi on 22 January, requesting approval for additional payments.

Nekundi responded five days later, rejecting the request.

“Your payment request of additional sitting fees for the extraordinary or special meetings and engagements referenced in your correspondence is not approved, as such meetings are covered by the annual retainer fees,” the minister said.

Namport officials believe Nekundi himself was the one who caused several meetings that led to them exhausting their scheduled directors meetings.

Nekundi told The Namibian boards have a culture of entitlement.

“The approved meetings are four per year. Board members get sitting fees for those meetings. They also receive retainer fees for ad hoc meetings.

“The retainer fees are paid monthly – whether they sit or not. Why should people still get paid for extra meetings when they are already receiving retainer fees?” he asked.

• This article was produced by The Namibian’s investigative unit. Email us news tips from your secure email:
  investigations@namibian.com.na

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