Calls to dissolve new NYS board
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
Youth minister Agnes Tjongarero has come under fire from the youth leagues of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) and Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) for appointing directors older than 35 for the National Youth Service (NYS).
The threshold for qualifying as a young person in Namibia is 35.
LPMYL leader Duminga Ndala wants the NYS board disbanded and replaced with younger directors.
“The new board should live up to the aspirations of young Namibians and should be at the centre of creating employment for young people and unleashing their potential.
“Agnes Tjongarero needs to go. I think she has served her purpose and she cannot reform herself beyond this. We need a minister who is not only young but also committed to transforming the status of young people in the country.
“Namibia has a high rate of youth unemployment, yet her ministry has not done anything to change that.
“There is a leadership crisis in the youth ministry - from the minister to the executive director,” Ndala said.
She charged that the youth ministry’s leaders are not committed to transforming the socio-economic situation of young people.
“There is definitely a generational problem between them and the young people of Namibia. They are out of touch with the realities of young people in Namibia and they don’t aspire to live up to the aspirations and dreams of young people,” Ndala said.
According to her, the appointment of NYS board members is indicative of how young people are disregarded and overlooked.
Disheartened
Yvette Araes, the acting secretary-general of the PDMYL, said they are disheartened by the fact that young people continue to be excluded from positions in the NYS, which should be run by the youth and for the youth.
“If you are above the age of 35, you should not be running youth matters. It is unacceptable that government keeps excluding young people from their very own institutions, and the PDMYL will continue to be at the front of positioning young people within their own spaces, the NYS being one of those spaces,” she said.
Lack of interest
Tjongarero responded that young people had not applied for these positions and the NYS was forced to appoint candidates from the shortlist at their disposal.
“It has nothing to do with age; it is not about being young. You want young people to be there.
“Where were the youth? These people applied. I don’t know why it is only them; I was not on the panel; we only received the shortlist,” she said.
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WINDHOEK
Youth minister Agnes Tjongarero has come under fire from the youth leagues of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) and Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) for appointing directors older than 35 for the National Youth Service (NYS).
The threshold for qualifying as a young person in Namibia is 35.
LPMYL leader Duminga Ndala wants the NYS board disbanded and replaced with younger directors.
“The new board should live up to the aspirations of young Namibians and should be at the centre of creating employment for young people and unleashing their potential.
“Agnes Tjongarero needs to go. I think she has served her purpose and she cannot reform herself beyond this. We need a minister who is not only young but also committed to transforming the status of young people in the country.
“Namibia has a high rate of youth unemployment, yet her ministry has not done anything to change that.
“There is a leadership crisis in the youth ministry - from the minister to the executive director,” Ndala said.
She charged that the youth ministry’s leaders are not committed to transforming the socio-economic situation of young people.
“There is definitely a generational problem between them and the young people of Namibia. They are out of touch with the realities of young people in Namibia and they don’t aspire to live up to the aspirations and dreams of young people,” Ndala said.
According to her, the appointment of NYS board members is indicative of how young people are disregarded and overlooked.
Disheartened
Yvette Araes, the acting secretary-general of the PDMYL, said they are disheartened by the fact that young people continue to be excluded from positions in the NYS, which should be run by the youth and for the youth.
“If you are above the age of 35, you should not be running youth matters. It is unacceptable that government keeps excluding young people from their very own institutions, and the PDMYL will continue to be at the front of positioning young people within their own spaces, the NYS being one of those spaces,” she said.
Lack of interest
Tjongarero responded that young people had not applied for these positions and the NYS was forced to appoint candidates from the shortlist at their disposal.
“It has nothing to do with age; it is not about being young. You want young people to be there.
“Where were the youth? These people applied. I don’t know why it is only them; I was not on the panel; we only received the shortlist,” she said.
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