Windhoek: The proposed amendment to the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, 1991, tabled by Minister of Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse last week, continues to elicit mixed reactions from members of Parliament (MPs) and analysts. During debate on the Petroleum Amendment Bill on Wednesday, some MPs expressed support for the amendment, saying it would enhance governance, while others opposed it, arguing that it shifts oversight powers from the responsible ministry.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Independent Patriots for Change MP, Nelson Kalangula, said the amendment seeks to centralise control at State House. "By housing the Upstream Petroleum Unit in the office of the President, the bill bypasses traditional ministerial checks and balances as per Article 14 (Ministerial Accountability), which does not cater to questioning of the President and the Director General, as they are not part of parliament," charged Kalangula. Kalangula further stated that the bill is not "worth passing in its current state," advocating for it to be either scrapped or revised in line with constitutional provisions.

Swapo MP Ruthy Masake defended the bill, saying it would promote accountability and policy coherence, and emphasised that reforms are essential for investor confidence and the sovereignty of national resources. "The bill creates an enabling environment for responsible investment and long-term economic growth in Namibia," she said. Masake argued that other countries with established and well-functioning petroleum sectors place strategic oversight of oil and gas under the office of the president.

In an interview with Nampa, social commentator Sam Kauapirura said shifting upstream authority from the ministry to the presidency constitutes a significant governance decision with long-term accountability implications. "When oil authority concentrates at the executive apex, transparency usually suffers unless extraordinary safeguards are embedded from the start," he said. Kauapirura noted that while centralised systems can enhance efficiency, they may also heighten the risk of corruption and undermine institutional integrity. He cautioned that delegating petroleum powers to the presidency could weaken parliamentary oversight. "Ministers are accountable to committees and question sessions. Presidency units are not. Licensing decisions and contract approvals, where national wealth is shaped, could become harder to interrogate unless the law compels disclosure," he remarked.