Tjongarero defies Shiimi, reinstates NYC boss

Outgoing youth minister Agnes Tjongarero has overturned the suspension of National Youth Council (NYC) director Calista Schwartz-Gowases in what appears to be one of her final major decisions before she wanders off into retirement.She is not expected to be part of the new Cabinet, which will be announced this week, after previously indicating her desire to retire.Tjongarero has directed the interim NYC board to reinstate Schwartz-Gowases, saying that her suspension was illegally approved with the backing of public enterprises minister Ipumbu Shiimi.Her directive, issued last Friday, marks the latest escalation in an ongoing power struggle between the two ministers over NYC governance and control. The dispute also highlights broader tensions regarding ministerial authority and decision-making over public entities.Shiimi had earlier endorsed the suspension of Schwartz-Gowases in a March 2024 letter, saying he had approved the move after consultations with Tjongarero.Tjongarero, however, refuted this, arguing that no consensus had been reached between them.She further contended that Shiimi’s involvement in the decision exceeded his legal mandate.In her directive to NYC interim chairperson Beverly Silas-!Garas, Tjongarero ordered that Schwartz-Gowases’ suspension be revoked with immediate effect. The NYC confirmed in a statement that Schwartz-Gowases had officially resumed duty as of yesterday.Meanwhile, Tjongarero’s position directly contradicts Shiimi’s 28 March 2024 letter, in which he justified his approval for the suspension. Shiimi, in response to recent media reports, stood by his decision, insisting that he acted within the confines of the law.Legal and governance concernsTjongarero maintains that since the NYC falls under non-commercial entities, the public enterprises minister had no legal jurisdiction over its internal disciplinary matters. She described Shiimi’s involvement as irregular and legally unsanctioned, which, in her view, rendered the suspension unlawful."Any action taken based on this endorsement is deemed irregular. Therefore, to ensure compliance with the relevant legal and governance frameworks governing the NYC, the suspension has been revoked, and the director is to resume her duties with immediate effect," Tjongarero said. However, she acknowledged the serious allegations against Schwartz-Gowases, which were outlined in a 2024 investigation report. She stressed that any disciplinary action should follow due process, allowing Schwartz-Gowases the right to respond while remaining in office."Considering the serious nature of the allegations against the director, as communicated in your letter dated 18 February 2025, she should be afforded her right of reply while in office," Tjongarero wrote. She further instructed that a legal opinion be sought to determine if a prima facie case exists against Schwartz-Gowases. If evidence warrants further action, she said, proper disciplinary procedures should be strictly followed in line with NYC’s governance framework."The youth ministry remains committed to upholding the principles of good governance, transparency, and adherence to due process. Moving forward, any administrative decisions must be taken in strict conformity with the provisions of the NYC constitution, relevant regulations, and governing laws," she added.Shiimi defends actionsIn response to the latest developments, Shiimi yesterday reaffirmed that his decision was based on the findings of a damning investigative report into NYC’s governance. He said that when the NYC board sought his approval to suspend Schwartz-Gowases, he reviewed evidence of financial mismanagement before giving his endorsement.However, when presented with a legal opinion from the attorney-general, which suggested a different approach should have been taken before suspending Schwartz-Gowases, Shiimi distanced himself from procedural missteps. He argued that the responsibility lay with the NYC board, which had initially sought his approval.The investigative report, dated 8 March 2024, revealed significant governance failures and accountability issues within NYC. It highlighted how millions in taxpayer funds had been allocated to NYC over the years without proper financial records or audited statements to account for expenditures.One of the key recommendations from the report was the suspension of both Schwartz-Gowases and then-executive chairperson Sharonice Busch, citing concerns over governance failures. - kenya@nmh-hub.com.na

Tjongarero defies Shiimi, reinstates NYC boss

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-19

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Tjongarero defies Shiimi, reinstates NYC boss

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-19

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