Also known as: minister Ithete · fired minister Ithete · former mines minister Ithete · deputy prime minister Ithete
Former deputy prime minister and industries minister dismissed from Cabinet in October 2025, at centre of controversy over Paragon Oil licence renewal.
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May 2026
Windhoek Observer
Former minister Natangwe Ithetewas also serving asdeputy prime minister, creating scheduling difficulties
Source
“The Chamber said former minister of industries, mines and energy Natangwe Ithete was also serving as deputy prime minister at the time, which created scheduling difficulties.”
Natangwe Ithetewas alleged to have renewedan expired oil block licence without approval
Source
“Reports last year suggested that Ithete was dismissed after allegedly renewing an expired oil block licence without approval, which violated an existing moratorium.”
Natangwe Ithetejoinsstanding committee on budget and finance
Source
“Naruseb has been reassigned to the China Parliamentary Friendship Group, while former deputy prime minister Natangwe Ithete joins the standing committee on budget and finance, replacing Elifas Dingara who recently resigned from parliament.”
“Ithete, who also served as minister of mines and energy from March to October last year, was fired by president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, but has stayed on in parliament as an ordinary member.”
Natangwe Ithetehas reportedly not receivedhis parliamentary salary for four months
Source
“Former deputy prime minister Natangwe Ithete has reportedly not received his parliamentary salary for four months due to administrative delays following his dismissal from the Cabinet.”
Natangwe Ithetewas fired fromCabinet positions for defying moratorium
Source
“When Ithete defied her by extending a lapsed PEL on behalf of a company whose owners were closely associated with her predecessor, Geingob, she immediately fired Ithete from both his Cabinet positions.”
President Netumbo Nandi-NdaitwahfiredNatangwe Ithete, former industries, mines and energy minister
Source
“The oil block resurfaced in the news last year as one of the reasons the president fired former industries, mines and energy minister Natangwe Ithete.”
Former mines minister Natangwe Ithetewas fired for allegedlyrenewing Paragon's licence for PEL 37
Source
“Last October, Namibian Sun reported that former mines minister Ithete was fired for renewing Paragon's licence for PEL 37, an allegation that Amunyela denied.”
Deputy prime minister Ithetewas fireda couple of days after the president attended a business meeting
Source
“It is telling that deputy prime minister Ithete, who doubled as minister of industries, mines and energy, was fired a couple of days after the president attended a two-day meeting with business executives at which she called for honest views.”
Chamber of Mines describing strained relations with government over local ownership policy reflects ongoing policy conflict affecting the mining sector.
IPC president Panduleni Itula called on President Nandi-Ndaitwah to publicly explain why former deputy prime minister and industries minister Natangwe Ithete was dismissed last year, citing concerns about government transparency and corruption despite the president's constitutional authority to dismiss officials without explanation.
National Assembly speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila announced a reshuffle of Swapo MPs across standing committees, parliamentary friendship groups and multilateral organisations, with several lawmakers removed from previous roles and reassigned with immediate effect.
Paragon Investment and businessman Knowledge Katti have separately expressed interest in acquiring a 10.2% equity stake in Rössing Uranium Limited currently held by South Africa's Industrial Development Corporation. Katti has called for the stake to be sold exclusively to a 100% Namibian entity, arguing that greater local private sector participation in strategic mineral assets is key to national economic sovereignty.
Former deputy prime minister Natangwe Ithete has not received his parliamentary salary for four months following his October dismissal from Cabinet, reportedly because the National Assembly has not received an official directive confirming his removal from the executive. Officials cite administrative delays, while a political commentator attributes the delay to institutional incompetence in reintegrating him into the parliamentary payroll system.
Political analysts and opposition figures say proposed legislative changes—transferring petroleum sector control to the presidency and restructuring regional councils to report through governors to the president—could concentrate executive authority and undermine democratic checks and balances. Defenders including a Swapo MP argue the measures are necessary to manage Namibia's emerging oil industry, but critics warn the pattern signals democratic backsliding and erosion of decentralisation.
Namibia's emerging oil and gas sector faces a 30-year legal vacuum in gas-related legislation and internal corruption scandals at Namcor, even as offshore exploration has confirmed 21 billion barrels of crude and significant gas deposits. A power struggle between resource nationalists and business factions over control of the industry has intensified following President Nandi-Ndaitwah's appointment and her move to centralise upstream petroleum functions in the Office of the President.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah faces mounting calls to disclose her family's alleged business interests in Namibia's oil and gas sector, after a journalist was removed from State House for pressing her on the matter. Political analysts, parliamentarians, and civil society groups are demanding transparency and parliamentary scrutiny, citing concerns about accountability and conflict of interest given the president's direct control over the industry.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has asked the attorney general to review the circumstances surrounding Paragon Oil & Gas' petroleum exploration licence (PEL 37) renewal, which was granted for four years despite regulations limiting third renewals to two years. The licence resurfaced as a controversy when former mines minister Natangwe Ithete was fired last year, allegedly for approving the renewal against the president's wishes.
Businessman Knowledge Katti's Sintana Energy has paid a N$16.3 million deposit to secure negotiation rights over a stake in PEL 37, an oil exploration licence controlled by Paragon Oil & Gas. The licence has been controversial, linked to the firing of former mines minister Natangwe Ithete, and Sintana has until April 2026 to complete due diligence and negotiate terms to become a shareholder in Paragon.