Alweendoaccusedsome developed nations of pressuring Namibia not to utilise resources due to environmental concerns
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“Alweendo accused some developed nations of pressuring Namibia not to utilise these resources due to environmental concerns, even though their own contributions to pollution are significantly higher – calling it "hypocrisy".”
Energy minister Tom Alweendotolda conference that poor oil management can drive corruption, inequality, and social tensions
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“"Poor management of the oil and gas sector can drive corruption and inequality that in turn will fuel social tensions and threaten political stability. We thus need to learn lessons from some oil-producing nations…" energy minister Tom Alweendo told a conference this week.”
Mines and energy minister Tom AlweendohighlightedJapan's pivotal role in green hydrogen and rare earth minerals
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“Mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo also highlighted Japan's pivotal role as a significant global partner in the realms of green hydrogen and rare earth minerals.”
Tom Alweendosaidwe cannot achieve Vision 2030 and need a serious paradigm shift
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“When he launched NDP4 in June 2017, former NPC director general Tom Alweendo said: "At the rate that we are going, I still maintain that we cannot achieve Vision 2030, and we need a serious paradigm shift and implementation of the programmes we create".”
Namibia's Mineworkers' Union of Namibia channels members' dues through Namibia Miners Investment Trust (Namit) and Nam-Mic Holdings, which have grown into a N$900-million portfolio with stakes in banks, mines, hotels and other sectors. Members and their representatives say they have seen little benefit from their decades of contributions and allege lack of transparency and financial irregularities.
Why it matters
Mineworkers' union investment empire transparency crisis exposes potential financial mismanagement affecting thousands of members' livelihoods and retirement.
Namibia's Mineworkers' Union of Namibia channels members' dues through Namibia Miners Investment Trust (Namit) and Nam-Mic Holdings, which have grown into a N$900-million portfolio with stakes in banks, mines, hotels and other sectors. Members and their representatives say they have seen little benefit from their decades of contributions and allege lack of transparency and financial irregularities.
Southern Africa is entering a new minerals cycle driven by the energy transition and demand for critical minerals, giving Namibia and the SADC region a chance to capture deeper industrial value through local processing. Success requires more than regulation — it demands reliable electricity, water, environmental systems, skilled technicians, infrastructure, finance and customers.
Namibia's offshore oil is legally owned by investors with 90%, while the state receives revenue through taxes and royalties, limiting the country's control over development decisions and ability to secure local benefits. President Nandi-Ndaitwah has positioned the delayed petroleum amendment bill as critical to strengthening the state's bargaining position on local content, job creation, and value retention, though fundamental investor control over operations cannot be altered.
Acting judge David Mangota ruled that Zambezi Exploration's urgent application to restrain the minister of industries, mines and energy from implementing a decision about a petroleum exploration licence for block 2812A did not meet the requirements to be heard as urgent, finding the urgency was self-created because the company delayed action after learning of a rival's relinquishment in January 2023. The judge ordered Zambezi Exploration to pay the legal costs of the minister and Vena Gemstones & Mining, the company that was awarded the licence.
Red Soil Energy has appealed to the Supreme Court over the mines ministry's 2021 rejection of its petroleum exploration licence application for four offshore oil blocks. The company claims it was treated unfairly and differently from competing applicants, while the minister argues the application was incomplete and lacked required financial documentation.
An opinion piece argues that Namibia's local content policy in oil and gas should be measured by actual skilled employment, apprenticeships linked to real job demand, and technology transfer—not merely spending figures or scholarships—to prevent fronting and ensure young Namibians gain lasting capability and productive livelihoods.
A political science student argues that elected councillors and regional representatives lack sufficient educational qualifications to effectively manage budgets, interpret legislation, and drive development, citing examples like Katima Mulilo's land mismanagement and calling for a national dialogue on minimum leadership standards.
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.