Namibian ambassador sued in US for alleged forced labour

Louren Skrywer (37), who worked for Julia Imene-Chanduru, then a senior Namibian diplomat in the US, is suing the now-ambassador to Switzerland. Upon arriving in the US in 2007, Skrywer claims she was subjected to harsh working conditions and paid a mere fraction of the promised salary – a paltry N$2 700 per month, according to a report in The Namibian. Now, she is suing Imene-Chanduru, accusing her of forced labour and human trafficking. The diplomat has denied wrongdoing. Skrywer filed the case in 2021 at a Maryland District Court in the US, which pushed Namibia’s Government to defend its top diplomat. Imene-Chanduru, who in 2018 served as President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s personal assistant, could be up for a senior position, such as that of International Relations Minister, in the next administration. But the allegations made by her former domestic worker could impact her political career.

Skrywer claims she was subjected to involuntary servitude, forced labour and unlawful passport possession while working as Imene-Chanduru’s nanny in Washington between 2007 and 2011. Skrywer has sued Imene-Chanduru and her husband, Simbarashe Britone Chanduru, according to The Namibian. Imene-Chanduru is currently Namibia’s ambassador to Switzerland, while the case continues in the US. Last year, the Maryland Court rejected Imene-Chanduru and her husband’s attempt to have the lawsuit dismissed on diplomatic immunity grounds. The Namibian Government filed a motion to dismiss the complaint because of a lack of jurisdiction on 17 and 31 March last year. The court upheld Namibia’s sovereign immunity, removing the country as a party in the case, but dismissed the Chandurus’ motions. It said the Chandurus failed to show that Skrywer’s claims against them are barred by either diplomatic immunity or residual diplomatic immunity. In a 16-page brief submitted on 25 October, defence lawyer Donna Beasley criticised Skrywer for providing what she called ‘vague and boilerplate’ responses to requests for information. Beasley also accused Skrywer of blocking access to documents related to her immigration status. Skrywer was granted a T-Visa, a special US residency permit for victims of modern slavery, in July. Imene-Chanduru said the matter is currently sub judice and she therefore cannot comment.

Full report in The Namibian