Businessman Banda Shilimela is demanding over N$16.5 million in payments from the Agriculture Ministry for security services offered.
In a matter that was heard in the Windhoek High Court on Thursday, Shilimela’s company, Shilimela Security and Debt Collection CC, got a tender in 2014 to provide security services and protect the Agriculture ministry’s properties at 54 locations in the Zambezi, Oshikoto, Kavango East and Kavango West regions.
Shilimela’s lawyers, Kishi Shakumu and Co Inc, argue that the services were rendered between January 2014 and January 2017. At that time, the security guard rate was N$6.75 to N$7 per hour before it increased to N$8.75 per hour in January 2017.
It is further claimed that in March 2019, the security firm wrote a letter to the Agriculture Ministry advising the government entity to settle the difference, but the ministry did not pay until September 2020.
Shilimela said on 9 October 2020, the Agriculture Ministry wrote him a letter in which they acknowledged the amount owed and proposed a meeting to negotiate and discuss the methods of payment for the outstanding claims.
“On 11 February 2021, the plaintiff demanded payment from the defendant from 9 October 2020 plus 13.25% interest each 30 days. The defendant failed, neglected and refused to pay the amounts owing,” he argued.
He added that despite numerous attempts to engage the ministry, he did not succeed, hence, his decision to approach the courts for a remedy.
Meanwhile, the ministry has filed a notice of intent to defend the case, which is being presided over by Judge Nate Ndauendapo and Judge George Coleman.
