Govt attorney denies drafting ‘Chicco’ lease

Newly appointed government attorney Ndateelela Nelao Shilongo-Alexander has denied drafting a controversial lease agreement between the state and property businessman Erastus 'Chicco' Shapumba.The lease, signed in December 2023 and overseen by law firm Sisa Namandje &amp; Co, relates to the education ministry’s rental of office space in a Windhoek building owned by Shapumba’s company, City Place and Property Management (Pty) Ltd. The contract runs until 31 March 2027.Shilongo-Alexander was a director at Sisa Namandje &amp; Co when the deal was signed, before her appointment as substantive government attorney in April this year.Under the agreement, the ministry pays N$1.1 million per month and has so far paid about N$13 million.Shilongo-Alexander told Namibian Sun this week she headed the labour law department at Sisa Namandje &amp; Co and was not involved in commercial matters."I was not part of that department and had therefore not prepared or had sight of the commercial lease agreement entered between the Namibian Government and City Place and Property Management (Pty) Ltd," she said.She said lease agreements of such magnitude are prepared by Namandje, assisted by the director and legal practitioners within the commercial law department.Premises reportedly stand emptyDespite signing the agreement and paying monthly rentals, the education ministry reportedly found the building unsuitable for office use, stating that “it was designed as a hotel”.The ministry noted that converting it for office use would cost an estimated N$33 million.Other reports alleged the building lacks a compliance certificate or a fitness certificate.If the lease runs to its March 2027 expiry without resolution, total state expenditure on the unoccupied building will exceed N$24 million.The education ministry also raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest linked to Shilongo-Alexander’s appointment in an urgent letter dated 30 April to the attorney general’s office, requesting legal intervention to cancel the lease.Another departmentShilongo-Alexander distanced herself from the matter, saying the cancellation file is a matter that falls under the directorate of legal advice, a separate unit from her directorate of civil litigation."Only if the commercial lease agreement cancellation is not finalised within the directorate of legal advice and court proceedings are instituted will this matter be referred to the directorate of civil litigation," she explained."In the event a conflict is identified in respect of a matter referred to the attorney general's office, an external law firm is engaged and instructed to represent the government's interest," she added.Shilongo-Alexander also underlined that the Law Society of Namibia imposes an ethical duty on all legal practitioners to act in accordance with its rules, in terms of Section 33 of the Legal Practitioners Act 15 of 1995.“Conflicts of interest are not unique to the attorney general's office. They can present themselves in any office within the Namibian government," she said."Where the conflict pertains to an employee, it is dealt with under regulation 11 of the public service staff rules. Additionally, the Law Society of Namibia places an ethical duty on all legal practitioners to act ethically in accordance with its rules,” she added.Potential risksHowever, sources maintain that her appointment could compromise government's ability to receive independent legal advice.They say that although Shilongo-Alexander is not currently handling the matter, as it falls under the directorate of legal advice, the file will move to her directorate if government pursues cancellation and Shapumba challenges the matter in court."Someone else senior to her must deal with the file. Unfortunately, in this case, the only senior legal person above her in government is the attorney general, no one else," a source said."She is the second-highest government legal advisor, and her directorate will potentially have to take the case to court if it goes there."Sources further warned that the conflict poses a risk to Shapumba himself."This is even worse for Shapumba because when her law firm was drafting the agreement, she must have obtained confidential information about Shapumba's intentions, weaknesses, and negotiation position, which she can use against him," the sources claimed.Legal ethics rules in Namibia prohibit a legal practitioner from acting against a former client in a matter that is the same as or substantially related to work they previously performed for that client.Sisa Namandje, meanwhile, confirmed that Shapumba had not yet consulted him about pursuing a court case or any dispute against the government."I do not have instructions and was never consulted by Chicco on any dispute with the government on this matter, if, indeed, there is a dispute with the government," he said.Chris Nghaamwa, the head of the legal advice directorate, could not be reached for comment.Questions sent to Gerald Vries, the executive director of the ministry responsible for youth and sports matters, went unanswered.

Govt attorney denies drafting ‘Chicco’ lease

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Namibian Sun 2026-05-19

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Govt attorney denies drafting ‘Chicco’ lease

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Namibian Sun 2026-05-19

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