National Youth Council in chaos

… pressured to droop director

Some members of the consultant council (RC) of the Nationwide Youth Council (NYC) have demanded transparency from the NYC board after an RC assembly was referred to as off mid-way at Ondangwa over the weekend.

The assembly was referred to as off as a result of the NYC’s government director, Calista Schwartz-Gowases, failed to offer the minutes of the earlier consultant council assembly.

These complaints and others led to her suspension yesterday afternoon following a press convention at which the consultant council members levelled some severe allegations towards her.

The chairperson of the human sources, remuneration and ethics committee, Simon Taapopi, yesterday confirmed the suspension.

He mentioned this was to permit disciplinary proceedings to be performed with out interference.

“This media assertion successfully informs the general public that every one powers and rights of Schwartz-Gowases to signify the NYC, or act on its behalf, are halted till additional discover,” Taapopi mentioned.

Among the many allegations are that Schwartz-Gowases has been working with out a contract since December 2021, creating an absence of readability on powers and duties between the chief chairperson and the director, leading to energy struggles.

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED ASSAULT

In the course of the assembly at Ondangwa, Schwartz- Gowases allegedly tried to assault a consultant of the In style Democratic Motion.

Schwartz-Gowases didn’t reply to calls and messages despatched to her yesterday.

Nationwide Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) Youth League secretary basic Veparura Kandirikirira yesterday mentioned RC chairperson Willem Willem cancelled the assembly after lunch and refused to enter the assembly corridor.

Kandirikirira mentioned this throughout a media briefing with 30 representatives of some NYC-affiliated organisations in Windhoek yesterday morning.

He mentioned the NYC has not submitted any audited monetary report within the final three years.

In response to one other attendee of the assembly, Schwartz failed to provide the minutes of the earlier assembly, which passed off at Otjiwarongo in 2022.

“On Saturday, we advised her to arrange the minutes. We gave her an hour, however she failed to do this. Folks began airing their unhappiness. Considered one of them was Vakamuina Kamutuezu. She then shouted to her ‘I’ll f**ck you up’,” the attendee mentioned.

Some attendees returned to the corridor and requested the chairperson to renew the assembly, however this didn’t occur.

“The chairperson mentioned she is not going to return to the assembly once more. All of the board members ought to go. We will’t be led by individuals like that,” the supply mentioned.

NO CONFIDENCE

The assembly was allegedly additionally referred to as off, as a result of representatives of the associates needed to move a vote of no confidence within the council’s board.

The RC because the second-highest decision-making physique of the council when the Basic Meeting will not be in session was to debate problems with maladministration, insubordination, corruption and energy struggles on the NYC.

The NYC didn’t convene the annual RC assembly in 2023, as per the Nationwide Youth Council Act.

“Allegations towards the board of the council vary from misplaced basic meeting resolutions, the director working with out a contract, and defying the directives of the consultant council to nominate the board of administrators of BridgeHead, a subsidiary of NYC,” one other supply advised The Namibian.

The RC, which consists of 74 individuals, convened the failed assembly at Ondangwa from Friday to Saturday.

The NYC includes over 50 youth organisations.

In the course of the assembly they demanded that the board name for the RC assembly no later than April, and that youth minister Agnes Tjongarero file for a fee of inquiry towards the board and its director to hunt a forensic audit report.

INVESTIGATION

The Namibian final week reported that the federal government has launched an investigation into the NYC to probe allegations of corruption, mismanagement and non-compliance.

The probe revolves round inside conflicts between government chairperson Sharonice Busch, and Schwartz-Gowases, in response to paperwork obtained by The Namibian.

The investigation hearings, which began on 24 January, had been conductted by a particular committee appointed collectively by the youth ministry and the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises.

The investigation committee comprised chairperson Clement Daniels, Martha Domingos, Augustinus Nawaseb, Nicolars Tembwe, Ellencia Hanse and John Nguluwe.

Moreover, Kandirikirira requested why Tjongarero was not current on the occasion.

“She wanted to indicate up, particularly seeing that the council’s title has had severe allegations within the numerous newspapers, “ he mentioned.

Tjongarero didn’t reply to calls and messages despatched to her yesterday.

Taapopi yesterday confirmed that the investigation has been accomplished by the particular committee, however its findings haven’t been launched but.

The NYC board will not be positive they’ll obtain the findings, since it’s a ministerial report.

An unbiased investigatioin will probably be performed by the board, Taapopi mentioned.

‘COVID USED AS EXCUSE’

Delegates from the Church of Africa and a former board member of the council, Kapanda Marenga, say they’ve written a number of letters to Tjongarero, however by no means acquired a response.

Marenga mentioned Covid-19 has been used as an excuse.

“The minister of youth has stopped us from promoting the place of the director and two others throughout our time because the board. The proof is on the market within the minutes of all our conferences, that’s in the event that they nonetheless exist and are protected with the secretary to the board, which is the director,” Marenga mentioned.

The president of the Namibian Youth Christian employees, Salmone Tsaitsaib, yesterday mentioned: “This platform was by no means in regards to the director. We went to this platform for the Namibian youth as a result of we’re the Namibian youth and have seen the struggles of the Namibian youth.”

Moreover, she demanded transparency from the board regardless that they solely have six months left earlier than their tenure involves an finish.