In a move that has sparked significant political and economic attention, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has dismissed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Natangwe Ithete, following allegations of breaching a presidential moratorium on oil-related deals and renewing an expired petroleum license without the required approval.
The Presidency confirmed the dismissal in a statement released yesterday, citing Article 32(6) of the Namibian Constitution. The President’s office stated that the decision took immediate effect and that President Nandi-Ndaitwah would temporarily assume responsibility for the ministry to “ensure continuity and effective coordination within this key sector.”
According to senior government insiders, the decision was prompted by concerns over Ithete’s alleged renewal of an expired exploration petroleum license (EPL) belonging to Paragon Holdings, a company reportedly owned by businessmen Desmond Amunyela and Lazarus Jacobs. The license, initially granted in 2011, had expired, but Ithete is said to have renewed it two months ago without obtaining presidential clearance, an action viewed as a direct violation of the moratorium on new or renewed oil agreements.
Reports further suggest that a recent trip undertaken by Ithete to Angola also contributed to the fallout. It is alleged that oil matters were discussed during the visit without authorization from the Presidency — which, as of March 2025, assumed direct oversight of Namibia’s oil and gas sector to centralize control and ensure transparency in resource management.
Sources also indicate that President Nandi-Ndaitwah was dissatisfied with the continued service of Petroleum Commissioner Maggie Shino and Charles Mbeha, the Deputy Director for Petroleum Legal Compliance and Local Content, both allegedly linked to the oil block renewal. Ithete was reportedly instructed to dismiss the two officials but did not comply.
Efforts to obtain comment from Paragon Holdings director Desmond Amunyela were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
Ithete’s brief tenure has not been without controversy. Earlier this year, he faced public criticism after making politically charged remarks in Khorixas, suggesting he would only work with Swapo Party representatives and warning that communities electing opposition leaders were “bringing hunger upon themselves.”
The President’s decisive action signals a firm stance on governance accountability within the country’s emerging oil sector, emphasizing strict adherence to oversight protocols and executive directives.
