Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Person

Eneas Emvula

Also known as: Emvula · Dr Simon Emvula · Simon Emvula · Wilfried Emvula · former ambassador Emvula · Ambassador Wilfried Emvula · Ambassador Emvula · Wilfred Emvula

Former ambassador appointed chairperson of Namibia's National Governing Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism, serving until January 2030.

Politics

Opposition parties unite against bill shifting oil powers to presidency

The News

Multiple opposition parties have objected to a petroleum amendment bill that would transfer oil and gas regulatory authority from the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Energy to the Presidency, warning it could enable political interference, corruption, and undermine parliamentary oversight. The bill requires support from all 51 Swapo parliamentarians to pass in the 96-seat National Assembly.

13 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 13 February

  1. Opposition parties unite against bill shifting oil powers to presidency

    Multiple opposition parties have objected to a petroleum amendment bill that would transfer oil and gas regulatory authority from the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Energy to the Presidency, warning it could enable political interference, corruption, and undermine parliamentary oversight. The bill requires support from all 51 Swapo parliamentarians to pass in the 96-seat National Assembly.

    13 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 12 February

  1. Ministry to evict temporary occupants of government houses

    The Ministry of Works and Transport has warned that temporary occupants of government houses must leave when their tenure ends, while sitting tenants in pool houses are guaranteed purchase under an alienation scheme. Minister Veikko Nekundi told Parliament that allowing properties earmarked for specific purposes to be sold to temporary occupants undermines administrative integrity, and that non-civil servants do not qualify to buy government houses as a priority.

    12 February 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 11 February

  1. Infertility remains stigmatised despite affecting millions

    Infertility and subfertility have increased significantly and affect men and women equally, yet couples often face insensitive questioning and social pressure rather than compassion. Limited access to fertility treatment in Namibia's public sector and lack of coverage by medical aid schemes compound the emotional and financial burden on those struggling to conceive.

    11 February 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. TotalEnergies and Petrobras challenge Namibia's oil approval process

    International oil giants TotalEnergies and Petrobras announced the acquisition of a stake in oil block PEL104 without prior ministerial approval, prompting the Namibian government to declare the move unlawful. Both companies have since denied wrongdoing and said the transaction remains subject to regulatory approval from the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy.

    11 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Namibia Minute