Businessman Shapwa Kanyama has refuted claims of operating a non-existent factory.

Amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding a health tender, worth around N$650 million, which was awarded to Amnics Trading, a company owned by Kanyama.

Meanwhile, Amnics says it only received notification of the award but the said tender was not yet granted.

Last week, the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) came under fire after it revealed that it could not confirm the existence of Kanyama's factory, despite awarding the tender for medical supplies to the company.

In response to these claims, Kanyama invited the media to tour his factory, located on Birmingham Street in the Northern Industrial Area of Windhoek. 

The nbc News team was able to view the production of condoms and other items underway in the factory. 

Despite industry players questioning the existence of Kanyama's factory, the company manager Maggie Shimbale confirmed it does in fact exist. 

She says they currently employ three permanent workers and 47 casual workers, though plans are to expand and hire more employees.

"Concerning the controversy about the condom tender, the tender has not been awarded yet, we only got the notification about the award, besides that, people are saying the factory does not exist, it is a briefcase company but the machines are here, everything of production and all the clinical products are taking place here. There is a possibility for us to recruit 150 people as soon as the tender is approved." 

The Health and Social Services Minister Dr. Kalumbi Shangula addressed the tender controversy in his recent update on the COVID-19 situation, emphasizing the importance of critical HIV prevention measures and the role of condoms in controlling the spread of the disease. 

He warned that cancellation of the tender would put public health and human life at risk.