NYC irregularities denied

THE National Youth Council and the Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture have both dismissed claims that the NYC was recklessly spending money allocated to it by Government.

The activities of the NYC came under fire in the National Assembly last Thursday, when Congress of Democrats (CoD) MP Elma Dienda called for discussion on exactly how the NYC was using its resources. “I am deeply concerned about the reckless manner in which monies have been spent on trips, travelling, S&Ts, (and) accrued leave, just to mention a few,” Dienda said.Speaking in the National Assembly on Wednesday, youth minister John Mutorwa called Dienda’s statement “reckless” and said she had no evidence for the allegations.”Otherwise,” he said, “if evidence does exist, the MYNSSC (Ministry) and NYC will be happy to receive such information, and we promise to act firmly and fairly if any wrongdoing is suspected.”Mutorwa also addressed claims that the NYC – the national umbrella body for youth organisations – was practising party politics and acting biased towards one party.Dienda had alleged that the NYC had only sent youths from one political party to the World Youth and Students Festival in Venezuela, a trip she said appeared to be an “all-expenses-paid holiday.””It is a total fabrication and a suffocation of the truth to allege that,” Mutorwa said.”The composition of the delegation was balanced.”One allegation Mutorwa failed to address, though, was that his ministry had been awaiting a report from the NYC on the whereabouts of close to half a million Namibia dollars transferred from Government for renovations to the Swakopmund International Youth Hospital.NYC Acting Secretary General Julius Namoloh told the media yesterday that this too was a lie.”I’ve never received any request from the Ministry, let alone the PS, with regard to such an amount,” Namoloh said.He issued a challenge to Dienda to provide the necessary documentation to substantiate her claims.The Namibian is, however, in possession of a copy of a letter dated June 1 2005, in which the Director of Youth, Elrich Pretorius, called for an urgent meeting with NYC accountant Namoloh and former acting NYC Secretary General Ralph Blaauw regarding the Directorate’s money that was administered by the NYC.In an earlier letter dated April 6 2005, the Director of Youth informed Namoloh as the NYC accountant that “the PS has decided that it would be better if funds for capital projects be transferred to the Regional Councils for better control.””I am deeply concerned about the reckless manner in which monies have been spent on trips, travelling, S&Ts, (and) accrued leave, just to mention a few,” Dienda said.Speaking in the National Assembly on Wednesday, youth minister John Mutorwa called Dienda’s statement “reckless” and said she had no evidence for the allegations.”Otherwise,” he said, “if evidence does exist, the MYNSSC (Ministry) and NYC will be happy to receive such information, and we promise to act firmly and fairly if any wrongdoing is suspected.”Mutorwa also addressed claims that the NYC – the national umbrella body for youth organisations – was practising party politics and acting biased towards one party.Dienda had alleged that the NYC had only sent youths from one political party to the World Youth and Students Festival in Venezuela, a trip she said appeared to be an “all-expenses-paid holiday.””It is a total fabrication and a suffocation of the truth to allege that,” Mutorwa said.”The composition of the delegation was balanced.”One allegation Mutorwa failed to address, though, was that his ministry had been awaiting a report from the NYC on the whereabouts of close to half a million Namibia dollars transferred from Government for renovations to the Swakopmund International Youth Hospital.NYC Acting Secretary General Julius Namoloh told the media yesterday that this too was a lie.”I’ve never received any request from the Ministry, let alone the PS, with regard to such an amount,” Namoloh said.He issued a challenge to Dienda to provide the necessary documentation to substantiate her claims.The Namibian is, however, in possession of a copy of a letter dated June 1 2005, in which the Director of Youth, Elrich Pretorius, called for an urgent meeting with NYC accountant Namoloh and former acting NYC Secretary General Ralph Blaauw regarding the Directorate’s money that was administered by the NYC.In an earlier letter dated April 6 2005, the Director of Youth informed Namoloh as the NYC accountant that “the PS has decided that it would be better if funds for capital projects be transferred to the Regional Councils for better control.”