Lawmaker Utaara Mootu has pressed youth minister Agnes Tjongarero to release a forensic report into the state of affairs of the National Youth Council.
For some time now, the NYC has proven to be the ministry’s Achilles heel, where allegations of corruption, clash of egos, nepotism and maladministration are said to be the order of the day.
The myriad of challenges prompted the government to probe the institution, while Attorney General Festus Mbandeka, from whom the minister sought a legal opinion, produced a report. The youthful Landless People’s Movement (LPM) legislator is now demanding the report be released before November’s watershed Presidential and National Assembly elections.
“So that young people know where to vote, and can hold the council and the ministry accountable during the manifesto phases of your party and your government,” Mootu stressed.
While assuring parliamentarians that the matter is being looked into, Tjongarero said the NYC was tasked with amending its Act to ensure the conflicts at the council, especially regarding the ambiguity of roles, are resolved.
Blurred lines
The roles in question are those of the heads of the institution, one occupied by suspended director Calista Schwartz-Gowases, and the other by Sharonice Busch. “We had a meeting, and I was informed that they are almost finished with the Act, which might also address the issue of the conflict. It seems the roles are not clear, but we are hoping that with the Act, if adopted by the representative council, it will solve the problem,” Tjongarero told Parliament last week.
Schwartz-Gowases again this week opted not to provide comment, as she is on suspension.
No contract
Among the ambiguities to be resolved is the case of Schwartz-Gowases, who is said to have been working without a contract since 2021. According to the board’s vote for suspension document submitted by Busch, Schwartz-Gowases refused to sign her employment contract with the council, thereby making her relationship with the council “ungovernable and unmanageable”.
Tjongarero said the board has been dealing with the matter of Schwartz-Gowases for a considerable period.
She said this forms part of the scope of the independent committee’s investigation, which has since provided recommendations on the status of her employment contract.
“Should it be determined that no formal contract exists, the ministry is prepared to take immediate corrective action to rectify this legal oversight, and ensure compliance with all relevant regulations,” assured Tjongarero.
Schwartz-Gowases was suspended in March due to alleged “serious misconduct”, the council said at the time.
Abuse
However, her suspension document seen by this paper reveals more.
According to the dossier, claims of gross insubordination, abuse of power and intimidation, use of abusive language, attempted assault and other offences previously submitted for legal advice to the board’s legal advisor, Sisa Namandje and Co, are among her purported sins.
The document, dated 18 March 2024, indicates her suspension was decided in July 2023, following consideration of numerous serious allegations against her and the receipt of advice from the legal advisor. On 2 February 2024, Busch said the board continued to face “gross insubordination and negligence” by Schwartz-Gowases – and ultimately sought permission from the line ministries to suspend her and institute disciplinary proceedings to that effect.
On 14 February 2024, the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Iipumbu Shiimi, directed the board to await the outcome of the special investigation in which the ministers will provide guidance on further action.
“All the while, the council continues to experience administrative paralysis due to the perpetual culture of gross insubordination by Schwartz-Gowases,” claimed Busch. It is mentioned that Schwartz-Gowases, in her capacity as director, continually refused to implement lawful and reasonable board resolutions without explaining.
“[She] disregards the lawful and reasonable instructions of her supervisor, the executive chairperson,” the document further reads.
Sins
Schwartz-Gowases’ conduct during the called-off ninth representative council meeting in the Oshana region seems to have been the final straw for the board.
The day prior to the event, Busch said Schwartz-Gowases unlawfully removed the keys to the NYC’s official vehicle, causing significant delays until the police were tasked to intervene.
Further allegations include her refusal to approve the use of the NYC minibus for the trip to Ondangwa, instructing staff to serve as her personal driver against board instructions, and attempting to override the NYC finance policy with unauthorised payments.
Busch also accused Schwartz-Gowases of negligence and misconduct during the ninth RC meeting.
She said Schwartz-Gowases failed to produce adequate minutes from the previous meeting, verbally abused a delegate, disseminated confidential information on WhatsApp, and attempted to assault a delegate. Busch at that time also said the situation had reached a critically unfortunate point that required remedy without delay.
She further cited concerns of safety and security of staff and board members if Schwartz-Gowases remained in her position.
Other worries included reputational damage due to multiple negative media reports, and ongoing maladministration attributed to Schwartz-Gowases’ insubordinate and negligent behaviour, which has eroded confidence in the organisation. The board’s resolution was approved by eight board members, except for one member, Beverly Silas-!Garas, who justified her decision by saying there are aspects in the round-robin board decision that are “untruthful”.
“This board is equally implicated in this regard and, therefore, cannot make an objective and impartial decision on this matter,” Silas-!Garas told her colleagues.
Last year, Astrid Feris of Sisa Namandje & Co advised the board to consider allegations made against Schwartz-Gowases at that time, and take action should it be found that she has a case to answer. Allegations against Schwartz-Gowases included, but were not limited to, unauthorised absence from the workplace, unauthorised use of council funds for personal use, and victimisation of employees, among others.