Shomwa Shamapande

Education

Shamapande graduated with a Masters from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and got his bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Adjunct Lecturer (Columbia University)

Mr. Shamapande has been an adjunct lecturer at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, where he co-taught a graduate level course that focused on executing communication, media and advertising strategies for organizations in a politically dynamic environment. Starting in spring of 2017, Shom Shamapande was hired as an Adjunct Professor in Howard University's Film Program, where he teaches screenwriting and story telling classes.

Legal Trouble

In August 2005, Shomwa Shamapande—while working under a top aid to the Democratic Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi—was charged in a case with intense political undertones, by the Republican District Attorney Denis Dillon. The District Attorney's office alleged that Mr. Shamapande had received over-payments by filing time-sheets for work he did not perform. In the months to follow, District Attorney Denis Dillon also filed similar charges against Robert Cataldo, Mr. Shamapande’s co-worker. Cataldo and Shamapande were just two of several employees/consultants investigated by the district attorney. Shamapande and his legal team refused to negotiate with the district attorney, however, Robert Cataldo settled the case out of court by accepting a minor violation. Cataldo is presently chief of staff for New York State Senator Diane Savino.

Mr. Shamapande, who had worked previously in statewide and national Democratic campaigns, argued during the trial that he was involved in the early stages of County Executive Thomas Suozzi's run for governor including setting up a meeting with political consultant Bill Lynch, attending strategy meetings during the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and writing a "Fix Albany" campaign strategy memo for Mr. Suozzi’s "Fix Albany" campaign. Shamapande’s legal team argued, that the duties performed by Mr. Shamapande - while legal - could be politically embarrassing to County Executive Suozzi because they showed that Suozzi was spending a considerable amount of time and resources preparing for a run for governor. Mr. Shamapande's attorney, Domonick Porco, argued that, “Shamapande, who had worked as a political consultant for state and national Democrats, was hired in 2003 to provide political assistance to Suozzi, then eying a run for governor," and his time-sheets were filed in that context. Mr. Porco contended further that, "Shamapande's county work was no different in 2005 than in 2004.”

In what was a surprise to the court room, Shamapande's defense didn't call a single witness. Dominic Porco commented to Newsday, "This case was clearly politically motivated - anyone in the court room saw that. The prosecution wasn't even close to meeting its burden, so I felt no need to call any witnesses."

On February 25, 2006, Thomas Suozzi announced that he was challenging then-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer for the Democratic nomination for governor of New York State. During his announcement speech he pledged to "fix the culture of Albany."

Cleared of All Charges

On December 2 of 2006, after a week and a half of testimony, a Nassau county jury deliberated less than one hour and found that the one-time Nassau County consultant "did not file false instruments nor defraud county taxpayers."

After the trial Shomwa Shamapande commented to Newsday about the remarkably quick decision by the jury, "I am gratified that the jury returned a verdict so quickly, and that they understood what I went through -- not just during this trial but during this process."

In a Washington Post interview in 2012, regarding the political investigation of DC Mayor Vincent Grey, Shamapande talked about his firsthand experience with the perils of a political rush to judgment, "The mayor has a right to due process, I’ve been accused of something I didn’t do. I went to court and defended myself and won an acquittal. Anyone can be accused and look guilty in the process. You can look really guilty in the media.” In the 2012 Washington Post article, someone in the group Mr. Shamapande was having lunch with brought up Grey’s silence in the face of several accusations. Mr. Shamapande responded, “After being charged with a crime, I can tell you, I looked guilty (in the media) . . . and I had to shut up and listen to my attorney because you don’t want to tip off your best defense and hurt your own case.”

United Nations Development Programme

In 2008, Mr. Shamapande worked as a Communications Specialist and Spokesmanfor the United Nations Commission for the Legal Empowerment of the Poor, which was co-chaired by former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and prominent Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto. The Commission addressed poverty and legal empowerment of the poor globally with specific recommendations for the developing world. The Commission argued that, "two in every three people on the planet — some 4 billion in total — are “excluded from the rule of law.” In many cases, this begins with the lack of official recognition of their birth: around 40% of the developing world's five-year-old children are not registered as even existing." The Commission completed its work in July 2008.

"Working as a spokesman for the former Secretary of State was an honor and a privilege, but more importantly I hope the work we did at the Commission will touch the lives of countless persons living in poverty throughout the world, particularly in my native continent of Africa," said Shamapande in a presentation at a Vony Conference. "

Personal life

Shomwa Shamapande is the son of 2001 Zambian Presidential candidate, Dr. Yobert Shamapande. Dr. Shamapande is the former Director of the United Nations Office in South Africa, and author of a book on poverty titled, “Why Bother About the Poor.” Shomwa's brother is Suni Shamapande, who is a vice president at Sears Holding.