Tjongarero: AG and Shiimi delayed my action on NYC

Youth minister Agnes Tjongarero says she was unable to act on a National Youth Council (NYC) probe that recommended the suspension of its director and executive chairperson, as she had to wait five months for a legal opinion from the attorney general’s office and another three months for a response from finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi.The outgoing youth minister has faced heavy scrutiny over her handling of the NYC matter after allegedly failing to act in a timely manner on a probe report finalised in March last year. However, Tjongarero told Namibian Sun this week that delays from key stakeholders made it impossible to implement the recommendations contained in the report.“A legal opinion was sought from the attorney general in March 2024, and the response was only received in July,” Tjongarero wrote in her written response to Namibian Sun's questions.“Following that, a letter was drafted to the minister of finance, incorporating the AG’s opinion, and a response was received in November. Given these timelines, implementation was not feasible.”She added: “In his response, the minister of finance referred the matter back to me, despite my initial request that all actions be put on hold until both the investigation committee’s report and the attorney general’s opinion were received.”Governance concerns also complicated the issue, she noted, as the board pursued its own agenda instead of prioritising sound governance principles and the integrity of the council.Governance failures, mismanagementAccording to the 8 March 2024 report, seen by Namibian Sun, the NYC has been plagued by governance failures and a lack of accountability. The findings reveal that millions of taxpayers’ dollars have been pumped into the youth council over the years, yet there appears to be little financial accountability, with no clear financial records or audited statements available.The special committee, chaired by Clement Daniels, recommended disciplinary actions against NYC director Calista Schwartz-Gowases and executive chairperson Sharonice Busch, followed by their immediate suspension.It was further suggested that, upon their suspension, Tjongarero and Shiimi should appoint an “experienced” and “skilled” interim director to oversee disciplinary proceedings and ensure that the NYC’s operations continue smoothly.Despite these recommendations, the previous NYC board moved to suspend Schwartz-Gowases for alleged misconduct – a decision that Tjongarero did not support. The internal struggles at NYC persisted until earlier this year when Tjongarero removed the board that had suspended Schwartz-Gowases and replaced it with an interim board.This decision led to legal action, with the axed board approaching the High Court to challenge Tjongarero’s move. The verdict in the case is pending.Tjongarero is among the senior ministers who have indicated they will not be available for further Cabinet appointments when the new government is sworn in next month.- kenya@nmh-hub.com.na

Tjongarero: AG and Shiimi delayed my action on NYC

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-14

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Tjongarero: AG and Shiimi delayed my action on NYC

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-14

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