Fishrot: Shuudifonya, Mwapopi out of jobs

Fishrot accused Otneel Shuudifonya and Phillipus Mwapopi have both lost their jobs because of their alleged involvement in the corruption scandal.Mwapopi, once a peace officer with the City Police, quit his job last year, while Shuudifonya is no longer employed as a deputy director at the Otjozondjupa regional council.Providing confirmation on Mwapopi’s employment status via telephonic enquiry, City Police Chief Abraham Kanime briefly said: “He resigned in June or July last year”.Meanwhile, Otjozondjupa regional council chief regional officer Agatha Mweti said they don’t have an employee by Shuudifonya’s name.“Why are you calling us? That thing was long [ago] finished,” she said before referring Namibian Sun to the regional council’s spokesperson, Cornelia Shikongo.Shikongo also confirmed that he was no longer employed by the council.She would, however, not elaborate on whether Shuudifonya – who was arrested in December 2020 – had tendered his resignation or was relieved from duty due to his extended absence from the office.“That we can’t comment on.”Jack of all tradesIn his bail application last year, Mwapopi described himself as a ‘jack of all trades’ who pounced on any business opportunity that presented itself.He landed business deals worth millions as a middleman.One such deal saw him providing consultancy services to a fishing entity called Low-Key Investments. This despite him having no track record of doing any previous work as a consultant.According to a forensic report by accounting and audit firm Deloitte, Mwapopi’s Ndjako Investments received payments totalling about N$19.7 million from Low-Key Investments between July 2018 and January 2019.During the start of the bail proceedings last year, it came to light that Low-Key Investments had access to hake fishing quotas through Fishcor.On his part, Shuudifonya had business connections with former Fishcor CEO Mike Nghipunya, former Investec Asset Management Namibia (now known as Ninety One) chief James Hatuikulipi and co-accused Mwapopi, among others.Shuudifonya said he is inspired by Hatuikulipi, whom he was introduced to by his cousin.Strong caseMeanwhile, the Supreme Court this week said the State had a strong case against former justice minister Sacky Shanghala, Pius Mwatelulo, Nghipunya, Hatuikulipi, Shuudifonya and Mwapopi.“The money trail is corroborated by documentary evidence obtained from the relevant bank accounts. Probably realising that should the State establish the money trail, an explanation would have to be forthcoming from the accused persons, Ngihpunya, Shuudifonya and Mwapopi gave evidence under oath so as to explain the monies that ended up in entities in which they have or had an interest in,” judge Theo Frank said in a judgment.

Fishrot: Shuudifonya, Mwapopi out of jobs

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Fishrot: Shuudifonya, Mwapopi out of jobs

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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