Allexer Namundjembo
Independence Patriots for Change (IPC) president Panduleni Itula insists that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s family has interests in the oil and gas sector.
He says the country must confront what he calls a conflict at the centre of government as the National Assembly debates the oil bill.
“It is not speculation. What I am about to present to you is a diagnosis of capture,” Itula said during a press conference at the party’s office in Windhoek on Tuesday.
At the same time, Itula said he was presenting evidence, not making allegations.
He described what he called “a capture of Namibia’s petroleum future by a single political family and its commercial network, operating across every segment of the oil value chain.”
The Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Amendment Bill proposes transferring licensing powers for upstream petroleum activities from the Ministry of Mines and Energy to a dedicated unit in the Office of the President.
Supporters say the change could speed up decision-making as Namibia prepares for possible oil production. While some argue it would concentrate too much power in the executive.
Nandi-Ndaitwah previously said her children have no direct or indirect interests in the oil and gas sector.
However, Itula stated that Nandi-Ndaitwah’s claim is untrue. He argued that either the President was unaware of her son’s business activities or she knowingly misled the nation about them.
He cited information from the website of Tradeport Namibia (Pty) Ltd, which he said is led by one of her [Nandi-Ndaitwah’s] sons.
The company lists “fuel imports and wholesale distribution” among its activities. Itula argued that under Namibia’s Petroleum Products and Energy Act, such activities fall within the petroleum value chain.
Diesel, he said, “is a petroleum product”, and “fuel import and wholesale distribution is an activity within the oil and gas sector by any reasonable definition.”
Itula also raised the role of the First Gentleman, Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, who serves as patron of the Namibia Youth Energy Forum (NYEF).
He said the forum’s advisory board chair holds leadership positions in energy and fuel-related companies.
“The President’s husband is the patron of a forum chaired by the man who controls Namibia’s largest petroleum joint venture with Vitol and is simultaneously acquiring the country’s largest independent fuel retail network,” Itula said, referring to public corporate records.
He urged the public to look at the bigger picture.
“The presidency controls who gets oil blocks. The president’s son controls the port where oil flows. Political allies control the fuel stations. Such an arrangement is not governance. This is the monarchy,” he said.
Itula also referred to a proposed oil supply base in Lüderitz, initially valued at about N$4 billion.
He said an open tender launched in 2025 was cancelled without public explanation and later resurfaced through a different procurement route, raising questions about transparency.
IPC has already opposed the petroleum amendment bill.
“No President with these conflicts of interest should hold licensing authority over the oil sector,” Itula said.
The debate on oil interests by the first family comes as earlier this month, Jemima Beukes, editor of The Whistle Namibia, questioned Nandi-Ndaitwah at State House after opening cabinet. However, security officials reportedly removed her after she continued pressing the issue.
In a separate statement earlier this month, Nandi-Ndaitwah reaffirmed her commitment to good governance and transparency. She said any suggestion of personal benefit from developments in the sector is taken seriously.
Again on Tuesday, the Presidency has denied allegations that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah or her children have business interests in Namibia’s oil and gas sector.
“The President and her children hold no ownership, beneficial interest, or stake in the oil and gas industry,” State House said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah’s office described the allegations as serious and called on Itula to provide credible and verifiable evidence supported by clear documentation to substantiate his claims.
