Mathews Hamutenya denies political connections in Namibia fuel deal

Businessman Mathews Hamutenya says he has no political connection to State House and has nothing to do with the recent government decision to award international oil trader Vitol the sole right to supply fuel to Namibia. Hamutenya, whose son Miguel (34) bought 52 service stations this year, has been singled out by the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) as part of a “conglomerate at the centre of Namibia’s petroleum oil takeover”. Hamutenya’s name cropped up again over the weekend on social media after minister of industries, mines and energy Modestus Amutse appointed Vitol as Namibia’s sole fuel supplier for the next three months.

This deal is seen as a boost for Hamutenya, who is a partner of Vitol in a storage facility. Speaking to The Namibian yesterday, Hamutenya denied connections to Vitol Bahrain, which he said is the company that struck the deal with the Namibian government. “I’m not a partner of the company that imports here.

I have no involvement with the company appointed, and I’m not a shareholder,” he said. Hamutenya has a joint venture with Vivo Energy, of which the parent company is Vitol (SA). When asked about his proximity to Vitol and potential influence in the awarding of the hand-picked transaction announced by Amutse, Hamutenya said his business is explicitly with Vitol (SA) Ltd Pty, not Vitol Bahrain, which has been awarded the tender.