Minister of sport, youth and national service Agnes Tjongarero has instructed the National Youth Council (NYC) to reinstate its suspended director, Calista Schwartz-Gowases, from Monday.
Schwartz-Gowases was suspended last March after reports of misconduct were levelled against her, which included that she has been working without a contract since December 2021, creating a lack of clarity on powers and responsibilities between the executive chairperson and the director, resulting in power struggles.
In a letter addressed to NYC interim board chairperson Beverly Silas-Garas, Tjongarero said the minister of finance and public enterprises, Iipumbu Shiimi, endorsed the suspension of Schwartz-Gowases without her consent.
“As the NYC falls under non-commercial entities rather than commercial entities, the minister of finance and public enterprises’ involvement in the suspension of the director was not legally sanctioned.
“Consequently, 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to ensure compliance with the relevant legal and governance frameworks governing the NYC, the suspension has been revoked, and the director is to resume her duties with immediate effect,” Tjongarero said.
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