Opposition parties in Namibia on Thursday united in opposing a petroleum amendment bill that would transfer regulatory authority over oil and gas from the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy to the Presidency, saying the move risks political interference, corruption and weakened parliamentary oversight.
The bill, tabled in the National Assembly by Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse, has prompted an acrimonious debate as lawmakers weigh whether control of the country’s hydrocarbon sector should be concentrated in the executive branch.
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Opposition lawmakers and political movements argued the proposal, as drafted, would centralize decision-making in a way that could create conflicts of interest and reduce transparency in a sector already flagged for governance concerns.
Several parties explicitly rejected the amendment in its current form.
- Affirmative Repositioning movement
- National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO)
- Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)
- Independent Patriots for Change (IPC)
- Landless People’s Movement (LPM)
Opponents told the assembly that shifting regulatory authority to the Presidency would undercut the checks and balances provided by parliamentary oversight and independent regulatory bodies. They said that the petroleum sector’s significance to national revenue and long-term development demands stronger, not looser, accountability mechanisms.
“Natural resources should not be placed under direct presidential control,” critics said during parliamentary debates, urging deeper scrutiny of the legislation before any transfer of powers is accepted. Parliamentary sources said members pressed for more detailed provisions on transparency, conflict-of-interest safeguards and parliamentary review in any amended bill.
The petroleum amendment bill arrived amid wider public concern about governance in extractive industries, where decisions over contracts, licensing and revenue distribution can have large economic and social consequences. Opposition figures warned that the proposed amendment could exacerbate existing risks rather than mitigate them.
Supporters of the bill, including cabinet proponents, argue that centralizing regulatory authority could streamline decision-making and improve coordination across government. But those arguments have not yet swayed the bloc of opposition parties who emphasized that speed should not trump accountability in the governance of oil and gas resources.
With the bill now the focus of heated debate in the National Assembly, the immediate parliamentary fate of the measure remains unclear. Opposing members have called for further examination, including clause-by-clause review and consultations with sector stakeholders, before any final vote.
The dispute highlights a larger political contest over control of Namibia’s natural resources and the balance of power between the executive and the legislature — an issue that could shape the country’s approach to energy development and oversight for years to come.
By News-room
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
