Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
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Organization

Office of the President

Office of the President — government entity overseeing upstream oil and gas regulation under proposed petroleum amendments, subject to parliamentary debate over concentration of executive power.

Mining & Energy

Minister defends placing oil powers under presidency

The News

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 →

Friday 6 February

  1. Minister defends placing oil powers under presidency

    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 →

Thursday 5 February

  1. Petroleum Bill requires oil sector officials to declare interests

    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 →

  2. Opposition questions president's control over oil and gas sector

    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 →

Tuesday 3 February

  1. Presidency defends removal of journalist from State House event

    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 →

Friday 30 January

  1. Politicians criticise Presidency for not condemning minister's xenophobic remarks

    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 →

Namibia Minute