Allexer Namundjembo
The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters’ (NEFF) support for the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Amendment Bill has sparked debate about trust and political alignment within the opposition.
On Wednesday, NEFF member of parliament Kalimbo Iipumbu told the House that the party supports the bill.
“The President represents the collective sovereignty will of the Namibian people; therefore, vesting final approval authority in the Presidency elevates petroleum governance from narrow bureaucratic control to a matter of national strategic national asset that will determine Namibia’s economic future for generations,” Iipumbu said.
He said the bill marks a step toward reclaiming Namibia’s petroleum wealth from foreign control and placing it under state authority.
The move has drawn mixed reactions from political analysts.
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said the decision is politically significant and places NEFF at a crossroads.
He said the party may be positioning itself as a pragmatic actor willing to cross party lines, or it risks being seen as compromising its opposition role.
“There are two main ways to interpret this move,” Kamwanyah said.
“First, I think it could reflect a policy-based position. NEFF may genuinely believe that placing the administration and oversight of the oil sector under the Office of the President will allow for stronger coordination, faster decision-making, and more direct accountability at the highest level of government. From this perspective, their support would be based on what they see as national interest rather than party politics,” he told the Windhoek Observer on Thursday.
He said the political context cannot be ignored.
“I think it is reasonable to question whether NEFF’s support may also be influenced by political engagement, negotiation, or an attempt to build strategic relationships with the ruling party. In politics, alignment on key legislation is often both ideological and strategic,” Kamwanyah said.
He added that the decision may create tension among opposition parties.
“Opposition politics is often built on clear differentiation from the ruling party. If NEFF is seen as too close to SWAPO on such a sensitive issue as oil governance, other opposition parties may begin to question its independence. However, much will depend on how NEFF explains its position. If it clearly justifies its support on constitutional, governance, or economic grounds, it may retain credibility. If the reasoning is unclear, suspicions may grow,” he said.
Political analyst Marius Kudumo said there is nothing wrong with a political party expressing a different view, provided it is guided by public interest.
“The Constitution of the Republic of Namibia obligates Members of the National Assembly to be representatives of all the people and to be guided in the performance of their duties by the objectives of the Constitution, public interest and their conscience,” he said.
Kudumo said concerns raised by some members of parliament relate to Article 41 on ministerial accountability.
“The question that some members of parliament have been raising on the matter is consistent with Article 41: ministerial accountability. In other words, how will Her Excellency the President account to the National Assembly, the legislative authority, for these functions, and what are the implications for separation of powers and accountability? My personal view, learning from state capture in South Africa and the ongoing commissions, is that the dignity of the Office of the President should be guarded and protected from anticipated and unforeseen risks, and the president in a constitutional democracy should focus on the functions, powers, and duties of the president as enshrined in the Constitution,” Kudumo explained.
He added that trust in NEFF will depend on how clearly the party explains its reasoning.
Political analyst Sackaria Johannes said he was surprised by the party’s position.
“Ideologically, NEFF is a party that is supposed to put people’s interests first, and given the history of SWAPO administration and the changing of policies to benefit the ruling elites and keep out the majority of Namibians, NEFF was supposed to be against this,” he said.
“By the look of things, I would say Mr Mkwiilongo was ‘clear but scheming.’ Hence, I feel like this support might be a result of political engagement. We have already seen the reaction in parliament. Some parties started to criticise this move already. I do not think opposition parties will easily continue to trust NEFF,” Johannes said.
The bill seeks to shift authority over the oil and gas sector from the minister of industries, mines and energy to the Presidency.
It would then give the President powers to grant, renew, or revoke oil and gas licences.
