Stop politicising youth affairs, Tjongarero told

One of the factions within the National Youth Council (NYC) has told youth minister Agnes Tjongarero that they will not accept the council’s new board which she appointed, since it is not politically inclusive. The minister’s decision to appoint an interim board sparked controversy, particularly from opposition factions within the youth community, with disgruntled youth claiming that the new board only consisted of members of the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL), while youth from other political parties were not considered. The temporary board comprises Curtis Andrew, Beverly Silas, Hendrik Theofilus, Vistoria Itta and Nghoshi Panduleni. Julia Nekwaya, Youth Leader and Head of Communications for PDM expressed strong opposition to the appointment, accusing the minister of bias and failing to ensure the board's inclusivity. “The minister suspended the board and not the GA [General Assembly], hence we proceeded with the GA to elect leaders that would represent us fairly and inclusively this morning. The minister is biased in her appointment of the interim board, which only has SPYL members which is not inclusive. We will not accept it. “The minister cannot toy with the youth agenda as she pleases. The youth are in crisis in this country and now more than ever, we need inclusive representation to salvage the image and reputation of the NYC,” Nekwaya told Namibian Sun yesterday. Nekwaya criticised the minister for making the NYC appear as an extension of the SPYL, undermining the credibility of the Council. According to a statement, in an effort to prevent a leadership vacuum and ensure the continued operations of the NYC, the youth ministry appointed a temporary board to lead council affairs. This move follows the removal of the previous board in accordance with Section 17 of the NYC Act of 2009. The appointment letter shared to the new board members, which this publication has seen, states that the interim board will facilitate the convening of the GA and serve as the electoral committee for the upcoming assembly. “Under the current circumstances and in accordance with Section 5 of the NYC Act, the interim board is tasked with facilitating the process for convening the General Assembly. Additionally, the interim board will serve as the electoral committee for the General Assembly,” the letter stated. Furthermore, it said that to ensure impartiality, none of the interim board members will be eligible for election to any positions during the General Assembly. “The interim board's tenure will last for six (6) months or until the completion of its tasks, whichever comes first, but no later than 12 June 2025. The minister may, by Section 10 of PEGA, extend the tenure by up to two (2) months at a time, if necessary,” the letter stated.

Stop politicising youth affairs, Tjongarero told

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-27

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Stop politicising youth affairs, Tjongarero told

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-27

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