Youth ministry accused of failing to pay N$1,2m to former volunteers

The Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service has allegedly failed to pay an amount of N$1,2 million to eight former volunteers.

The volunteering service of the eight who were stationed at different youth centers across the country in different roles was terminated on 1 April 2020.

They were, however, promised a token of appreciation for the services they rendered to the ministry amounting to N$150 000. Minister of sport Agnes Tjongarero says the matter has not reached her office but she is aware of it.

“It has not reached my office yet, but I am aware that the executive director was busy with that issue. How far he went, whether everybody was given something or not, I am only hearing that from you,” Tjongarero says.

SERVICE TERMINATION

According to a memo dated 25 March 2020, from the then acting director of youth development, Flora Yambwa, all volunteers were informed of their service termination due to a broader financial crisis affecting the government.

Yambwa explained that the crisis resulted in the halting of vacant positions in public service in line with a cabinet directive.

She continued: “Therefore, due to the above background, the ministry, in its top management meeting, has finally resolved that the services of the ministerial volunteers should be suspended”.

Despite this suspension, the ministry promised the volunteers a token of appreciation of N$150 000 each, which has yet to materialise.

GRIEVANCES

One of the volunteers, Ester Immanuel, who started volunteering for the ministry in July 2014, says the money was meant to help them to start business, projects and sustain themselves.

“They promised us money that never came to us. We volunteered for the ministry for a long time hoping that when vacancies come out we will apply so they recruit us, but nothing. They were saying that since they terminated our services until today,” Immanuel says.

Immanuel says out of 102 volunteers, 60 were recruited by the ministry while 42 were promised funds. Of those, 34 received their payments, leaving eight without any support. “We used to get allowances and we had no problem because we hoped we were going to be employed, but to no avail. They promised us money, but nothing. Now we are stranded. No jobs, and we are aging,” she adds.

She says since then, they have been in contact with the executive director, Erastus Haitengela, but no action has been taken yet.
“We met the executive director last year on 3 March 2023, where he just asked us to write our names and confirm how many we were. We then met with the human resource in his absentia where the same promise was made,” Immanuel says. A bank statement seen by The Namibian of Immanuel shows that on 29 April 2020, a deposit of N$152 000 was made into her account by the ministry; however on 8 May 2020, the money was reversed. “I was not given a clear explanation why that was done. I asked the bank but I was told there was a query on the money. There are 34 people who were paid and we are not getting anything. How fair is that?” Immanuel questions.

Another volunteer, Herlidis Petrus (41) who was stationed at the Berg Aukas Youth Centre near Grootfontein as a cook since 2012, says she was getting an allowance of N$1 000, while she’s hoping to get permanently employed.

“I volunteered as a cook, cleaner and I worked at the farm. All they do is lie to us every day that they will pay. My colleagues who were stationed in the same area are also not paid anything,” she says. The group consists of three men and five women. Messages and calls to ministry executive director Haitengela went unanswered.