Opposition parties in the National Assembly have united to reject a petroleum amendment bill that would transfer oil and gas regulatory authority from the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy to the President, saying the change risks political interference, corruption and weakened parliamentary oversight.
The move, tabled by Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse, prompted sharp objections from a cross-section of opposition groups. The Affirmative Repositioning movement, the National Unity Democratic Organisation, the Popular Democratic Movement, the Independent Patriots for Change and the Landless People’s Movement said the bill, in its current form, would concentrate power over natural resources in the executive and heighten governance risks in a sector already criticized for transparency shortfalls.
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“Natural resources should not fall under direct presidential control,” opposition representatives told the assembly, arguing the amendment requires deeper scrutiny. Critics warned that centralizing regulatory authority could create conflicts of interest and undermine the checks and balances that parliamentary oversight is intended to provide.
The proposal has reopened debates over the management of oil and gas oversight and the political dimensions of resource governance. Opposition members said the amendment diminishes legislative review of licensing, contracting and regulatory decisions, and could deter investor confidence by making policy subject to shifting political priorities.
Minister Amutse introduced the bill during a recent sitting of the National Assembly. Supporters of the measure — who argue the change would streamline decision-making in an industry with strategic economic significance — have not publicly detailed the safeguards they would attach to the transfer of authority.
Opposition parties called on lawmakers to subject the petroleum amendment bill to fuller parliamentary scrutiny, including detailed committee hearings and consultations with civil society and industry experts. They urged consideration of alternative approaches to reform, such as strengthening independent regulatory bodies and clarifying transparency and anti-corruption safeguards, rather than consolidating authority in the presidency.
Parliamentary debate on the bill is expected to continue as parties seek amendments or possible referral to committee. The dispute highlights broader tensions over control of the country’s natural resource policy and the balance between executive power and legislative oversight.
As scrutiny intensifies, stakeholders from opposition parties to civil-society groups are calling for clear, accountable rules to govern oil and gas oversight to prevent politicization and protect public interest.
By News-room
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
