Opposition Obstructs Vital Oil and Gas Reform in Namibia
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Namibia's opposition parties resist necessary amendments to the Petroleum Act, prioritizing bureaucratic delays over decisive leadership and national progress.
Namibian opposition parties are once again standing in the way of progress, expressing unfounded concerns over amendments to the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act that would streamline regulatory authority by transferring it from the Ministry of Mines and Energy to the Office of the President. This reform is essential for strong, unified leadership in the oil and gas sector, ensuring swift and effective governance.
Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani has chosen to sow distrust, warning about the dangers of consolidating power under a single individual and referencing past incidents. He stated, "We need to carefully consider what amendments we are doing because this is a resource that has the potential to create criminals and superheroes in terms of how it is applied." Such rhetoric only serves to stoke fear and hinder the government’s ability to act decisively for Namibia’s benefit.
Affirmative Repositioning chief whip Tuhafeni Hangula echoed these obstructionist sentiments, insisting on endless deliberation. "Oil has been in the ground for millions of years and it is not going anywhere. There is no need for us to be bulldozed into making amendments even though there is already an existing act," he said, disregarding the urgent need for reform.
Acting Minister of Mines and Energy Frans Kapofi responded responsibly, assuring that due process would be followed while urging lawmakers to recognize the urgency of the bill, which is necessary due to constitutional changes introduced by the president. "We are not bulldozing anyone, we're simply appealing to everyone to treat this as urgent due to the changes introduced constitutionally by the president, and to fully enforce we brought this instrument to you."
Despite opposition stalling, the National Assembly has postponed further discussion of the bill until after the recess, with debates set to resume on 3 February 2026. Namibia’s future prosperity depends on bold action, not endless debate.
Source
The Namibian -Fact-checking
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