Allexer Namundjembo
The Minister of Sport, Youth, and National Service has revoked the suspension of Namibia National Youth Council (NYC) director Calista Schwartz-Gowases.
The NYC board had suspended her last year over allegations of serious misconduct.
In a letter to the executive chairperson of the interim board, minister Agnes Tjongarero lifted the suspension with immediate effect.
Tjongarero cited clarification from Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi, who said that he was not involved in executing the investigation committee’s recommendations and did not delay any NYC-related matters.
A media statement from the Finance Ministry, issued by the spokesperson Wilson Ashikoto, said the reports misrepresented the ministry’s role by wrongly attributing responsibility for NYC governance matters to it.
Tjongarero’s letter to the interim board explained that since NYC is a non-commercial entity, the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises had no legal authority over the director’s suspension.
“Any action taken based on this endorsement is deemed irregular. Therefore, to ensure compliance with the relevant legal and governance frameworks governing the NYC, the suspension has been revoked, and the director is to resume her duties with immediate effect,” the letter reads.
The revocation follows a letter of demand from Schwartz-Gowases’s lawyers at Shipindo & Associates INC. Dated 10 March, it gave the interim board seven days to reinstate her and restore full access to her office and all relevant records.
NYC interim board chairperson Beverly Silas-!Garas confirmed receiving the minister’s letter.
The council last week announced Schwartz-Gowases’s reinstatement.
“Mrs Schwartz-Gowases has consequently been requested to return to her position as director of NYC on Monday, 17 March 2025, at 08:00 in compliance with the Minister’s directive,” the statement reads.
The statement further described the suspension as “unprocedural,” claiming that “illegal payments and preferential treatment were provided or authorised to be made to entities who lodged complaints against the director.”
Schwartz-Gowases was suspended over allegations of serious misconduct.
These included working without a formal contract since December 2021, which reportedly created confusion over her powers and responsibilities, leading to internal conflicts with the executive chairperson.
