“Parliamentary Potholes”: Windhoek Observer, 31 March 2007, Page 12 refers:
1.1 Depending on the specific subject matter under discussion, I do read Oom Kosie Pretorius’ column, entitled “Parliamentary Potholes”. Saturday, 31 March 2007’s Parliamentary Potholes is no exception. Only the paragraphs dealing with the National Youth Service (NYS) have specific relevance, in this regard.
1.2 I want to highlight the following from the quoted article’s specific paragraphs:
(a) “to use State machinery, to advance party interests”.
(b) “the direction which is being taken by the National Youth Service.”
(c)”I do have though reason to suspect that a future President could use the National Youth Service as storm troops in a political struggle.”
1.3 It is extremely uncalled for and indeed unfortunate, that Mr Pretorius, a respectable political leader and one of the authors of the Namibian Constitution, would allow himself to make such unsubstantiated allegations and then try to justify them, by quoting from a newspaper article, that did not deal with the National Youth Service of Namibia, in the first instance! What message is Mr Pretorius attempting to convey? Hopefully, he will factually clarify his allegations, regarding the NYS, sometime in the future, as he promised.
1.4 The indisputable facts are:
(a) the National Youth Service of Namibia is a statutory agency, a legal entity; established by an Act of Parliament, namely the National Youth Service Act, 2005 (Act number 6 of 2005);
(b) Mr Pretorius was still a member of the National Assembly, when the mentioned Act was passed. Why is the Honourable Pretorius not making any reference to the said Act?
(c) The objectives, functions and powers of the National Youth Service, are clearly articulated and explained in Section 4 1 2 and 3 of the Act. They are all noble objectives, functions and powers. Does Honourable Pretorius not support the Act, now? Why?
(d) The National Youth Service was, is and shall continue to be governed by and through the National Youth Service Act, 2005 (or any possible amendments to be passed by Namibia’s Parliament), supported by the appropriate Government policies. Mr Pretorius’ reference to the current Minister and Deputy Minister, as persons, is not only suspicious, but is, at the same time, dangerously patronising and misleading.
(e) I argue that, for as long as Namibia is governed, as a constitutional democratic state (Article 1 of the Namibian Constitution), based on the principle of the Rule of Law, and justice for all, nobody, (including politicians) was, is and shall be above such laws.
1.5 Finally, it is important to highlight and emphasise here, that the National Youth Service Act, 2005, in Section 13, stipulate the conditions and requirements, for somebody to be recruited into the National Youth Service. I n summary, such conditions and requirements are:
(a) the person must be “a youth and citizen of Namibia,” (Section 13(1) ).
(b) Recruitment must “ensure that there is equitable representation of persons from all the regions into which Namibia is divided,” (Section 13(3).
1.6 Instead of putting the NYS in an undeserved negative light, through unfounded rumours and innuendo, Mr Pretorius, is called upon, to use his good offices and newspaper column, Parliamentary Potholes, to educate Namibians, especially the Youth, about the contents and provisions of the National Youth Service Act, 2005; as well as to positively encourage young people of and from his political constituency, to join the National Youth Service of Namibia. They are Namibians, too! We need them in the NYS.
John Mutorwa
Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture