Office of the President — Namibian executive office overseeing oil and gas governance through a proposed Upstream Petroleum Unit, subject to parliamentary debate over power concentration.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Office of the President is proposed to receive major shift of authority in petroleum governance under the amendment bill
“At the centre of the current proposal is a major shift of authority towards the Office of the President and the Upstream Petroleum Unit.”
Part 1. The Petroleum Amendment Bill and Constitutional GovernanceThe Namibian
Office of the President received transfer of divisions of marginalised communities and disability affairs
“He said the president has transferred the divisions of marginalised communities and disability affairs from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare to the Office of the President, placing them under the direct supervision of the vice president's office.”
VP’s deputy pick slammed as encouraging bureaucracyThe Namibian
Office of the President revealed N$20 million allocation to upstream petroleum unit
“The motivation budget of the Office of the President, tabled on Wednesday by prime minister Elijah Ngurare, revealed an allocation of N$1.2 billion for the 2026/27 fiscal year, including N$20 million that the opposition had questioned.”
IPC MPs slams N$20 million allocation to non-existent upstream petroleum unitThe Namibian
The bill seeks to put under the oil and gas sector under the Office of the President
“The bill seeks to put the oil and gas sector under the Office of the President.”
Petroleum bill dubbed a repeat of ‘fisheries' dark story’The Namibian
Office of the President would receive shifted day-to-day upstream oil governance under bill
“The National Assembly is debating the petroleum (exploration and Production) amendment bill, which would shift day-to-day upstream oil governance to the Office of the President.”
Build Strong Institutions, Not EmpiresNew Era
Office of the President would receive authority for core licensing, compliance, and data management functions
“Under the proposed Bill, authority long exercised by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Petroleum Commissioner would be reassigned to the President, the UPU's Director General, and its Deputy Director General. These powers include core licensing, compliance, and data management functions.”
Opinion – Build strong institutions of accountability not personal empiresNew Era
Office of the President will be represented at Erkki Nghimtina's funeral
“A family member also confirmed that the Office of the President will be represented and senior government officials are expected to attend.”
Nghimtina gets military farewell … Eenhana Shrine beckonsThe Namibian
Office of the President is proposed to receive petroleum products upstream unit under petroleum bill
“Swartbooi said this in the National Assembly on Tuesday, during a discussion on the petroleum bill, which seeks to transfer administration of the petroleum sector into the Office of the President.”
Swartbooi wants petroleum products upstream unit converted into monitoring and evaluation unitThe Namibian
Office of the President will receive authority for approving petroleum transactions under new upstream petroleum unit
“Last week minister of mines Modestus Amutse tabled the petroleum amendment act, which will move authority for approving such transactions to the new upstream petroleum unit under the Office of the President.”
TotalEnergies and Petrobras face backlash over disputed Namibian oil licence PEL104The Namibian
Office of the President will be placed with new upstream petroleum powers
“Mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse has defended the decision to place new upstream petroleum powers under the Office of the President.”
Amutse defends vesting of oil powers in PresidencyAn opinion article argues that Namibia should not rush to formalize a more centralized petroleum governance structure that would shift authority to the Office of the President and the Upstream Petroleum Unit before parliament and the public fully consider the constitutional and accountability consequences.
27 May 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion article argues that Namibia should not rush to formalize a more centralized petroleum governance structure that would shift authority to the Office of the President and the Upstream Petroleum Unit before parliament and the public fully consider the constitutional and accountability consequences.
27 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian oil and gas investor Knowledge Katti has issued a statement supporting the Petroleum Amendment Bill and the proposed Upstream Petroleum Unit in the Office of the President, arguing the reforms are necessary to strengthen oversight, attract investment, and accelerate Namibia's transition to oil production.
12 May 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibia Football Association has secured more than 10 land sites countrywide to build stadiums but lacks the financial resources to develop them, instead seeking external and local investment. The NFA's projects are separate from the government's plan to build 28 stadiums across regions, though the association will provide technical advisory support to ensure compliance with international football standards.
19 April 2026 · The Namibian →
President Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed National Council member Moses //Khumub as deputy minister in the Office of the Vice President, a move that lawmakers have criticised as unnecessary bureaucracy given the limited role of the office. The State House said the deputy minister will provide technical and professional support to Vice President Lucia Witbooi, particularly in overseeing marginalised communities and disability affairs divisions transferred from another ministry.
10 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian government has begun reviewing a field development plan from TotalEnergies for the Venus oil project, a key step toward formal negotiations and investment approval. The project is projected to generate between N$127 billion and N$229 billion in government revenue over 25 years, potentially accounting for 7.9% to 14.2% of total government income.
1 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Lahja Nashuuta Alpha Mbanyanda Uzera, a Senior Private Secretary in Kunene's Governor's Office, joined public service in April 2025 and has since contributed to infrastructure projects like the Oute Bridge and youth development programmes. He emphasises the dedication of his office team and plans to pursue postgraduate studies in International Relations with a goal of joining the diplomatic corps.
27 March 2026 · New Era →
Opposition parliamentarians in the Independent Patriots for Change criticised the N$20 million allocation to an upstream petroleum unit in the Office of the President's budget, arguing the unit does not yet exist under law and the funding is therefore premature and amounts to corruption. They called for the money to be reallocated to the minister of industries, mines and energy pending passage of the petroleum bill.
27 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The petroleum amendment bill, which proposes moving oil and gas sector oversight to the Office of the President, has faced criticism in Parliament for creating a "power vacuum" and concentrating executive control. Critics argue the measure removes ministerial accountability to Parliament and risks elite capture, while the government defends the proposal as necessary modernisation to protect the sector and ensure proper regulation.
27 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Independent Patriots for Change MP Michael Mulunga argued during National Assembly debate that the petroleum amendment bill, which would place oil and gas under the Office of the President, mirrors the governance failures that led to the 2019 Fishrot scandal. He warned that granting such discretionary powers without proper oversight risks similar corruption and questioned why the bill is urgent when commercial oil production is years away.
25 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Since independence in 1990, Namibia's Parliament has evolved into a democratically elected body and now has its first female speaker, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, elected in March 2025. However, political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah notes that despite its progressive constitutional framework, Parliament has struggled with weak oversight of the executive due to single-party dominance and the executive being drawn directly from Parliament, resulting in limited depth in legislative debate.
20 March 2026 · New Era →
The Namibian Police Force honoured 17 officers who died in the line of duty between 2020 and the present during an Interpol Blue Day ceremony, with most deaths resulting from motor vehicle accidents, particularly among VIP Directorate members. Safety and security minister Lucia Iipumbu highlighted the need for improved working conditions, mental health support, and enhanced training to address road safety risks and other challenges facing law enforcement.
13 March 2026 · New Era →
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.
6 March 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that the proposed petroleum amendment bill, which would shift upstream oil governance to the Office of the President through a new Upstream Petroleum Unit, risks concentrating power and eroding parliamentary oversight, drawing parallels to the Fishrot scandal and recommending instead a specialist regulator outside the Presidency with stronger parliamentary accountability and implementation of existing anti-corruption laws.
2 March 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that the proposed Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Amendment Bill, which would move upstream oil governance from the Ministry of Mines and Energy to the Office of the President, poses constitutional and accountability risks by concentrating discretion outside parliamentary scrutiny and historical safeguards. The author proposes instead creating an independent, specialised upstream regulator outside the Presidency, strengthening conflict-of-interest rules, operationalising dormant accountability laws, and equipping Parliament with resources to oversee the sector.
27 February 2026 · New Era →
The Petroleum Amendment Bill, which would vest petroleum sector oversight powers in the Office of the President rather than the Ministry of Mines and Energy, faced mixed scrutiny in the National Assembly. Critics including Bernadus Swartbooi raised concerns about the legal doctrine of functus officio limiting presidential review powers and complicating court challenges, while others questioned whether oil advisors at State House are already performing duties that legally belong to the ministry.
19 February 2026 · New Era →
Erkki Nghimtina, a liberation struggle icon who served as defence minister and member of Parliament, has died at age 77. His burial will take place at the Eenhana Shrine on Saturday, with a military funeral confirmed and senior government officials expected to attend.
18 February 2026 · New Era →
Landless People's Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi told Parliament that instead of placing a petroleum products upstream unit under the president's office, it should be converted into a monitoring and evaluation component, citing concerns about recentralisation of power, accountability loopholes, and the inability to review presidential decisions without court involvement.
18 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse clarified on Tuesday that his ministry retains control of the petroleum sector despite plans to move it to the Office of the President, and said he will continue regulating it until the law is changed. The statement followed questioning from Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda about decision-making authority in the petroleum sector and local content engagements amid ongoing National Assembly debates on the petroleum amendment bill.
18 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The proposed amendments to Namibia's Petroleum Act would establish a new Upstream Petroleum Unit in the Office of the President and transfer certain regulatory functions from the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy to this new body. The changes aim to create a streamlined, specialist regulator with direct presidential oversight to improve decision-making efficiency and investor confidence amid multiple large-scale oil and gas projects.
13 February 2026 · The Namibian →
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 →
Namibian opposition leaders have divided over a proposed amendment to transfer upstream petroleum powers from the mines and energy minister to the Office of the President. While the government argues the change will strengthen governance of the emerging oil and gas sector, opposition figures including IPC leader Panduleni Itula, APP's Imms Nashinge, and PDM's McHenry Venaani warn that the shift risks undermining parliamentary oversight, constitutional separation of powers, and regulatory accountability.
11 February 2026 · New Era →
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 →
The Namibian government has challenged a TotalEnergies–Petrobras agreement to acquire controlling stakes in Petroleum Exploration Licence 104 offshore, stating it was informed only minutes before the public announcement and was not formally consulted despite legal requirements for ministerial approval. The ministry stressed that all petroleum transactions require prior approval under Namibian law and reaffirmed its commitment to regulatory compliance and transparency as the country's oil sector develops.
10 February 2026 · New Era →
Opposition parties have raised concerns that Namibia's new petroleum amendment bill, which would place the Upstream Petroleum Unit under the Office of the President, could lead to unchecked executive power and corruption similar to the Fishrot scandal in the fishing sector. They point to cautionary examples from Nigeria, Ghana, Angola, and Russia, where energy sector governance failures and political manipulation resulted from poor institutional oversight.
6 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse has defended the decision to vest new upstream petroleum powers in the Office of the President, arguing the model follows international practice and strengthens governance of Namibia's oil and gas sector. Amutse said parliamentary oversight will remain in place, with the new unit reporting annually to the National Assembly on revenue, taxes and performance.
6 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Amendment Bill 2025, introduced in Parliament, will require top government officials overseeing the petroleum sector to declare any interests in oil and gas and establish a new Upstream Petroleum Unit under the Office of the President to modernize regulation of the sector. Opposition members including PDM leader McHenry Venaani raised concerns that the Bill concentrates excessive power in the presidency.
5 February 2026 · Informanté →
Multiple opposition figures have criticized President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's placement of upstream oil and gas activities under her office, citing concerns about conflict of interest and lack of ministerial accountability. The president has categorically denied reports that her children have interests in the sector, while opposition leaders argue the arrangement violates constitutional principles and creates transparency risks.
5 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The Presidency defended its removal of journalist Jemima Beukes from State House, citing protocol violations after she posed a question to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah about concerns regarding her family and the oil industry. Namibia Media Professionals Union condemned the incident as state-sponsored intimidation, citing attempts to intimidate the journalist and noting the Presidency has not regularly hosted briefings for nearly a year.
3 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Politicians have criticised the Office of the President for failing to hold Minister James Sankwasa accountable after he made xenophobic comments about a Zimbabwean journalist, with opposition figures and analysts arguing the Presidency should have condemned his remarks rather than deflecting responsibility to the relevant line ministry.
30 January 2026 · The Namibian →