Namibia’s oil and gas sector is standing on the edge of history. For decades, we dreamed of “the big find,” and now that dream is reality. Oil is no longer a rumour off our shores, it’s here, commercially viable, and promising to change the face of our economy forever. But here’s the catch: how we manage this industry from day one will determine whether Namibia becomes a success story or just another African country that struck oil and ended up poorer for it.
That’s why leadership matters. The people at the top set the tone, negotiate the deals, and decide whether billions flow into hospitals and schools, or into the pockets of a few. Which is why eyebrows are already raised about the first set of appointments President H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has made. She promised “business unusual,” and that’s exactly what she has delivered. The question is: unusual in a good way, or unusual in the kind of way that makes us nervous?
First out the gate: Natangwe Ithete
The very first announcement after the President’s swearing-in was Natangwe Ithete as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy. Nobody doubts his political clout. As Deputy Prime Minister, he carries serious weight in Cabinet. If the idea is to ensure that oil is tied into national priorities like jobs, infrastructure, and development, then having a politician of his stature makes sense.
But here’s the problem: oil is not like any other portfolio. Ithete doesn’t come with deep industry experience. He hasn’t spent years in petroleum negotiations or managing exploration projects. Meanwhile, on the other side of the table sit international oil majors with decades of expertise, armies of lawyers, and engineers. This is not the kind of business where you learn on the job without consequences. One bad clause in a contract today could cost Namibia billions tomorrow. That’s the gamble: can political strength make up for technical inexperience?
Enter Shilunga and McLeod
The second move was the creation of an Upstream Petroleum Unit inside the Presidency itself, headed by Kornelia Shilunga with Carlo Lord Muhamed McLeod as deputy.
Shilunga is no stranger to Namibian politics, having served as Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy. McLeod brings some industry seasoning from his time at Chevron Namibia and the Petroleum Affairs Directorate. On paper, the pairing looks like an attempt to balance political know-how with technical insight.
But doubts linger. Neither Shilunga nor McLeod are heavyweights in the global oil industry. They don’t bring the kind of deep international pedigree that countries like Ghana or Angola leaned on when their oil booms began. By placing this unit inside the Presidency, the message is clear: the President wants direct control. That can inspire confidence, or it can look like centralising power in the hands of people still finding their footing. At best, it signals political seriousness. At worst, it feels like Namibia is stepping onto the world’s oil stage with an understudy cast.
Finally, NAMCOR gets a new face
The most recent appointment is Maureen Hinda-Mbuende as Interim Managing Director of NAMCOR, replacing Victoria Sibeya.
Hinda-Mbuende is respected for her discipline, financial acumen, and governance experience. For an organisation rocked by instability, she is exactly the kind of person who can restore credibility and calm.
The timing, however, is tricky. Oil is moving fast in Namibia. NAMCOR needs not just stability but vision. It needs someone who can sit across from Exxon, TotalEnergies, or Shell and negotiate confidently. Someone fluent in upstream petroleum and plugged into global networks. Hinda-Mbuende’s six-month interim role may steady the ship, but it risks leaving NAMCOR treading water at the very moment it needs to be sprinting.
The bigger picture
So, let’s step back. What do we have? A political heavyweight with little industry background, a former deputy minister, a mid-level industry manager, and a financial administrator. Together, they are being asked to guide Namibia’s oil and gas destiny.
Supporters say this is exactly what “business unusual” looks like. Forget the technocrats, they argue, what we need is governance, accountability, and people the President trusts to drive her vision. And there is some merit to that. After all, oil wealth has destroyed many countries not because of a lack of technical know-how, but because of corruption and weak governance.
But let’s not sugar-coat it either. Oil is unforgiving. This is not a sector where you learn as you go. The stakes are simply too high. Countries across Africa have been burned before, signing away their resources because their negotiators were outmatched. Ghana avoided some of these traps by relying early on strong, technocratic leadership. Others weren’t so lucky. Namibia must decide which story it wants to write.
Fasten your seatbelts
President Nandi-Ndaitwah is keeping her promise: this is not “business as usual.” But disruption is not the same as competence. The new team will be judged not on résumés but on results, whether they can reassure investors, win public trust, and protect Namibia’s long-term interests.
Expectations are sky-high. Namibians want jobs, infrastructure, and prosperity. Investors want stability and clarity. Civil society wants transparency and environmental safeguards. That’s a lot to juggle, and this new crew has little margin for error.
So yes, the appointments are unusual. And yes, they reflect the President’s vision of doing things differently. But whether this unusual crew can sail Namibia through the stormy waters of the global oil industry remains to be seen. For now, all we can do is watch, wait, and, as the President herself warned, fasten our seatbelts.
