Youth leaders slam ‘illegal’ NYC board
National youth organisations and regional youth structures under the National Youth Council (NYC) umbrella have delivered a scathing rebuke to the education and youth ministry, accusing it of violating the National Youth Council Act by endorsing what they describe as an “illegal interim board”.
In a strongly worded joint statement delivered in Windhoek last Thursday, two heads of affiliates, Claudina Shimanda and Kapanda Marenga, claimed the appointment of the current NYC interim board did not follow legally prescribed procedures.
The youth leaders said the board was unilaterally appointed by the then minister Agnes Tjongarero on 13 December without the involvement of the representative council (RC), the only body they argue was legally mandated to elect or appoint leadership.
According to the affiliates, the ministry has since continued to engage with this interim board while allegedly ignoring multiple written requests from youth structures to restore lawful governance.
The affiliates expressed their frustration at what they termed "executive interference" in youth leadership and warned that this approach undermines the credibility of the NYC.
“The National Youth Council Act clearly outlines how leadership must be appointed. This process has not been followed,” the heads of affiliates said.
“We will not accept decisions that are imposed from outside the council’s democratic structures.”
Corrective action
The youth organisations are now demanding that the ministry immediately convene the representative council in accordance with the Act to elect a legitimate board. They cautioned that the ongoing crisis threatens to weaken youth development structures and breed further distrust among young people.
“We must protect the integrity of youth representation in Namibia,” said Shimanda. “The National Youth Council must be governed by the rule of law, not by political preference.”
The affiliates reaffirmed their commitment to lawful leadership and stated they are ready to defend the council’s structures from further political encroachment. They added that the youth sector cannot be expected to remain silent while its governing legislation is ignored.
The press statement was delivered in the presence of regional youth forums and nationally accredited youth organisations, all of whom endorsed the call for immediate corrective measures.
In a strongly worded joint statement delivered in Windhoek last Thursday, two heads of affiliates, Claudina Shimanda and Kapanda Marenga, claimed the appointment of the current NYC interim board did not follow legally prescribed procedures.
The youth leaders said the board was unilaterally appointed by the then minister Agnes Tjongarero on 13 December without the involvement of the representative council (RC), the only body they argue was legally mandated to elect or appoint leadership.
According to the affiliates, the ministry has since continued to engage with this interim board while allegedly ignoring multiple written requests from youth structures to restore lawful governance.
The affiliates expressed their frustration at what they termed "executive interference" in youth leadership and warned that this approach undermines the credibility of the NYC.
“The National Youth Council Act clearly outlines how leadership must be appointed. This process has not been followed,” the heads of affiliates said.
“We will not accept decisions that are imposed from outside the council’s democratic structures.”
Corrective action
The youth organisations are now demanding that the ministry immediately convene the representative council in accordance with the Act to elect a legitimate board. They cautioned that the ongoing crisis threatens to weaken youth development structures and breed further distrust among young people.
“We must protect the integrity of youth representation in Namibia,” said Shimanda. “The National Youth Council must be governed by the rule of law, not by political preference.”
The affiliates reaffirmed their commitment to lawful leadership and stated they are ready to defend the council’s structures from further political encroachment. They added that the youth sector cannot be expected to remain silent while its governing legislation is ignored.
The press statement was delivered in the presence of regional youth forums and nationally accredited youth organisations, all of whom endorsed the call for immediate corrective measures.
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