Africa-Press – Namibia. THE interim Namibia Sports Commission board should acquaint itself with the relevant regulatory framework to avoid the pitfalls of its predecessors, the minister of sport, youth and national service, Agnes Tjongarero, yesterday said when appointing its members.
Being well informed will ensure the board effectively delivers on its mandate and not “easily land in hot waters”, she said.
The seven commissioners to run the troubled national sport-governing body for “a maximum of six months” are Nicky Kamwi Mbaimbai (chairperson), Simon Uirab, Adelheid Jacobs, Patrick Percy Xoagub, Turky Tissa Ndashiiva, Linekela Nanyeni and Monika Shapwa.
Tjongarero said an inadequacy to master the regulations caused the breakdown of her relationship with the previous board.
She axed the entire eight-member board for insubordination just days before their term lapsed at the end of May.
“There was no good relationship between the board and the minister. One main reason is not knowing what is in the legal papers,” Tjongarero said.
“If you go and read this, you will know what is expected from you, what is your way of working, what you are to do if you’re stuck, and where to go for information,” she said.
“Sometimes, and I don’t know if it’s true, they say Namibians don’t read. They only read the headline, and that’s it. In this case don’t just read, know what is there so you don’t get into trouble.”
Tjongarero said she consulted with the Ministry of Public Enterprises and the Cabinet before effecting the appointments.
Hence she does not foresee complications emanating from the procedure.
“The Public Enterprises Governance Act has its own rules and regulations. I would encourage all the new board members to get hold of that act and read it together with what you’re going to get today [yesterday],” Tjongarero said.
“It’s not good in any governance to have a vacuum. Because there are staff members in that commission, they don’t know whether they are coming or going, or who do they ask whatever they need to,” she said.
To install a permanent board involves a lengthy recruitment procedure which has led the minister to appoint a temporary leadership.
“There’s a clause or provision in the Public Enterprises Governance Act that all positions of boards must be advertised. When you advertise it takes time, and because of that permission was given to have an interim board,” Tjongarero said.
“In the Namibia Sports Act, where the board issues come in, it states that board members should come from institutions, and four appointed by the minister.
“That’s where the problem comes in. The four cannot be in equal appointment with the others coming from the institutions,” she said.
The interim board, which can operate with “five to seven members”, will advertise the four vacancies in consultation with the sport minister and the public enterprises ministry.
“The territory which you are going to enter is not a normal territory. The staff members, not knowing what is happening, have their own issues. And there are certain members there who have issues with the minister,” Tjongarero said.
“If it comes to a point that all the things they are supposed to do in the six months are not done, we’ll take it up the normal route to Cabinet to find out if it can be extended.”
She deflected queries pertaining to the fallout between her office and the previous board, saying the matter is sub judice.
The court proceedings do not have an effect on the temporary board’s appointment, she assured.
“As you all know there is a court case, but we’ll talk about it later. We don’t talk about court cases now, only about what we’re going to do,” she said.
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