President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has challenged Independent Patriots for Change leader Panduleni Itula to produce empirical evidence linking the first family to Namibia’s upstream oil sector instead of blowing hot air.
The president made these averments in a statement late yesterday.
It followed Itula’s earlier accusations that Nandi-Ndaitwah misled the nation when she said none of her children have direct or indirect interests in the oil and gas sectors.
However, Nandi-Ndaitwah retained her stance.
Earlier this month, Nandi-Ndaitwah dismissed allegations and media reports that she and her family were systematically working to ensure that they take full control of the petroleum industry, especially in the wake of the proposed Petroleum Amendment Bill, which has since divided opinion in the public domain.
“The Presidency reiterates that the Petroleum Amendment Bill currently before Parliament relates strictly to the upstream petroleum industry, namely petroleum exploration and production activities. These activities are legally distinct from downstream petroleum operations such as fuel importation, transportation, storage and retail trade, which remain regulated under the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy,” presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo said. “Given the seriousness of the allegations made, such claims would reasonably require credible and verifiable evidence supported by a clear documentary paper trail demonstrating ownership or beneficial interest in upstream petroleum licences. The Presidency therefore respectfully calls upon Dr Panduleni Itula to substantiate the claims advanced,” Mbambo said.
He continued, reiterating Nandi-Ndaitwah’s commitment to transparency, responsible resource governance and evidencebased public discourse in safeguarding Namibia’s emerging petroleum sector.
However, at a press conference yesterday, Itula’s third on oil in less than three weeks, the dentist-cum-politician challenged Nandi-Ndaitwah’s version with what he termed as “fresh, readily available and unquestionable”.
“I do not make allegations; I present evidence. I do not speculate; I diagnose. What I am about to present to you is a diagnosis of capture, a capture of Namibia’s petroleum future by a single political family and its commercial network, operating across every segment of the oil value chain,” Itula told a packed conference room.
In his presentation, Itula unpacked what he labelled a deep, systematic and well-orchestrated network within the country’s oil sector, which involves the direct participation of the president’s two sons, Tate Nande Ndaitwah and Ndelitungapo Ndaitwah, and First Gentleman Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah.
Tate is the CEO and co-founder of a company called Tradeport Namibia (Pty) Ltd, which is involved in fuel imports and wholesale fuel distribution, road and rail transport, and warehousing, amongst others, Itula asserted.
“The president’s son, Tate Nande Ndaitwah, is CEO and co-founder of a company called Tradeport Namibia (Pty) Ltd. Tradeport’s own public website, tradeportnam.com, confirms that bonded diesel is listed as a core commodity and fuel imports and wholesale distribution are listed as one of four principal business lines. The company employs a dedicated head of fuel distribution, Jacques Marais. The company operates from the Port of Lüderitz, the designated site for the N$4 billion oil supply base,” said Itula.
Reading from a dossier of evidence against the president, Itula further pointed out that her husband’s decision to accept the role of Patron for the Namibia Youth Energy Forum (NYEF) presents a unique challenge as it borders on a serious conflict of interest.
He argued that NYEF’s advisory board chairperson, Miguel Hamutenya, simultaneously serves as the CEO of Millennium Investment Holdings, the entity that owns 30% of Validus Energy. The other 70% in Validus Energy is owned by Vitol.
Itula also contended that the first gentleman’s proximity to NYEF becomes further complicated as the forum’s chairman, Hamutenya, is also the co-founder and director of Nasan Energies, which is in the process of acquiring 53 Engen and Shell fuel stations – subject to approval by the Namibia Competition Commission.
Nasan Energies is a Namibian energy company specialising in the marketing, supply and trading of refined petroleum products.
More entanglements
Not only was Itula concerned about the first gentleman and his son Tate’s involvement in the country’s petroleum sector value chains, but he also flagged the president’s other son, Ndelitungapo, a lawyer who allegedly co-founded Vaneli Foods CC, which is allegedly listed as a subsidiary of Millennium Investment Holdings, the same company managed by NYEF’s chairperson, Hamutenya.
“The president’s son’s company is a subsidiary of the conglomerate at the centre of Namibia’s petroleum capture. The president’s husband is patron of a forum chaired by the man who controls Namibia’s largest petroleum joint venture with Vitol and is simultaneously acquiring the country’s largest independent fuel retail network. In June 2025, an NYEF delegation led by Hamutenya met the president’s Upstream Petroleum Unit at State House, the very unit to which all PEL files have been transferred,” stated Itula.