Taapopi set to lead National Youth Council amid election controversy 

Swapo member and former Namibia National Students Organisation president Simon Taapopi is reportedly set to become the next executive chairperson of the National Youth Council (NYC).

This is despite controversy surrounding the council’s leadership elections. The executive chairperson position is currently held by Sharonice Busch, who after leading the council for four years, will soon be on her way to parliament.

The elections, which were scheduled to take place at the NYC Rietfontein Training Centre this weekend, are now in limbo after sport, youth and national service minister Agnes Tjongarero issued a directive to halt the process.

Tjongarero’s directive, issued through her personal assistant Jessica Gaomuses on Thursday evening, cited the NYC board’s repeated failure to comply with ministerial directives as the reason for the suspension.

Despite the minister’s directive, NYC board member Simon Taapopi maintains that the elections will proceed as planned. Sources indicate that Taapopi is the only candidate to have secured nominations from the required seven regions to contest for the executive chairperson position.

When questioned on his candidacy on Friday, Taapopi neither confirmed nor denied the reports. “Nominations closed today [Friday]. The electoral committee will publish the names of the duly nominated delegates who will vie for the position, with elections set to take place on Sunday,” he says.

However, The Namibian has learned that Taapopi is facing political resistance, with the minister’s camp reportedly backing another candidate to lead the NYC.

Tjongarero has reportedly halted the election process in a bid to allow the current board’s term to lapse, which would enable her to appoint an interim leadership body.

This interim body is reportedly intended to reinstate NYC director Calista Schwartz-Gowases, who was suspended in March. Tjongarero did not answer calls made to her phone.

The NYC board has since sought for a legal opinion from Sisa Namandje and Co, which noted that the minister has no power to stop the general assembly that is required to be held every four years.

The legal opinion, also seen by The Namibian, further points out that the minister’s personal assistant does not qualify to write a directive under the NYC Act.