Ex-chair alleges conflict over deputy's law firm ties to TransNamib

Former TransNamib interim board chairperson Tjiuee Kaura has accused deputy board chairperson Gilroy Kasper of having a conflict of interest after his law firm allegedly acted both for and against the state-owned railway company in separate legal matters.In a letter dated 22 April, Kaura alleged that Murorua Kurtz Kasper Inc. (MKK) represented TransNamib in one matter while appearing against the company in another, creating what he described as "the probability of impaired judgement versus fiduciary responsibility".He escalated the matter to works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi after an alleged unsuccessful attempt to resolve it directly with Kasper.Kaura said he sought one-on-one meetings with Kasper on 17 and 20 April before referring the matter to Nekundi while it was being addressed through the board's governance structures.Speaking to Namibian Sun last week, Kasper categorically denied any wrongdoing, insisting that all potential conflicts had been declared and managed in accordance with corporate governance requirements."I categorically reject the allegations made by Mr T. Kaura regarding legal matters allocated to Murorua Kurtz Kasper Inc. The complaint is without merit and does not disclose any conflict of interest," he said.He explained that attorney Lucius Murorua had represented TransNamib in the long-running Quenet Capital matter since 2012, years before Kasper joined the board, and that Murorua remained the attorney of record after the matter proceeded on appeal to the Supreme Court.Kasper said he was appointed to the interim TransNamib board only in March this year, by which time the legal team handling the matter was already in place."At the very first instance the matter was mentioned during board induction I promptly indicated my conflict in so far as it relates to the matter. I further disclosed another unrelated matter in which I represented a client against TransNamib," he said.He added that he had since withdrawn from representing the client in the unrelated matter and that it would be handled outside his firm."You are further at liberty to request my conflict declaration forms from the Company Secretary wherein you will no doubt see that the conflict was duly declared."'No conflict'Kasper maintained that there was "therefore no conflict of interest", arguing that Kaura's concerns relate to historic arrangements inherited by the new board."Furthermore, I have at all relevant times disclosed my association with Murorua Kurtz Kasper Inc. to the board and have recused myself from all deliberations and decisions relating to this matter."He said the issue had already been discussed by the board and considered resolved, and that it had been disclosed to Nekundi shortly after the interim board's appointment."The honourable minister advised that we carefully manage our conflicts, which I have in any event done."Proper channelsFollowing Kaura's letter, Kasper wrote separately to the minister, complaining that he had not been afforded an opportunity to respond before the allegations were escalated."It is indeed so that I have not been considered in the one-sided correspondence directed to yourselves... I do as such believe it is only fair that my position is also taken into consideration," he wrote.He argued that the matter should first have been tabled at a properly constituted board meeting rather than being referred directly to the minister.Kasper further stated that he had spoken to Kaura by telephone on 20 April and advised that the issue should be dealt with through the board's governance structures.According to Kasper, both the Quenet Capital and Fadi Ayoub matters predated the appointment of the current board, with decisions having already been taken by previous boards and implementation remaining the responsibility of management.He said he had declared both matters as standing conflicts and undertaken to recuse himself whenever they arose before the board.Kasper added that his firm had also executed a special power of attorney in April 2026 excluding him from participation in the Quenet matter.Works and transport executive director Jonas Sheelongo confirmed that the ministry had received Kaura's correspondence but said the issues raised fell within the governance responsibilities of the TransNamib board."As indicated in the correspondence, the matter was brought to the ministry's attention for information purposes while it was being attended to at board level," he said."The issues raised fall within the governance processes of the board, which is responsible for addressing such matters in accordance with its established policies and procedures."He added that as the issue is being addressed by the board, the ministry is not in a position to comment further.

Ex-chair alleges conflict over deputy's law firm ties to TransNamib

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-13

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Ex-chair alleges conflict over deputy's law firm ties to TransNamib

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-13

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