The rise of Natangwe Ithete – always at the president’s side

On most days when President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah steps into the public eye, one figure is never far from her side.

Before the crowds surge forward, before ministers and governors angle for a handshake, it is often Natangwe Ithete who reaches out first.

He greets her with the easy familiarity of a confidant, a man who has found himself at the centre of power almost by instinct.

Ithete’s rise has not been a straight climb.

Before stepping into politics, he honed his administrative and leadership skills in the private and financial sectors.

He spent over a decade as a valuation and inspection officer at the Agricultural Bank of Namibia (2002–2015) and earlier held management roles at Ellerines Holdings and 4Seasons Signs.

Parallel to this, he was deeply involved in union leadership, serving as Namibian Financial Institutions Union (Nafinu) vice president and deputy national secretary from 2005 to 2015, while also playing active roles in Swapo youth structures, including the Oshana Regional Youth Forum and the SPYL Central Committee.

He first entered the National Assembly as deputy finance minister, a portfolio that required him to work in the shadows of fiscal heavyweights and absorb the rhythms of government budgeting.

When that tenure ended, he slipped back into the quieter life of a Swapo backbencher. For a time, his presence in parliament was steady but unremarkable, his contributions solid but not headline-grabbing.

He was, however, not without drama. During one heated session, Ithete almost exchanged blows with a Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) MP, an incident that underscored both his fiery streak and the intensity of parliamentary politics.



Into the spotlight

Then came the political turn. With Nandi-Ndaitwah’s ascent to the presidency, Ithete’s fortunes brightened almost overnight.

The quiet parliamentarian was handed not one, but two Cabinet portfolios — deputy prime minister and industries, mines and energy minister.

It is a rare double crown in a political culture where single ministerial responsibilities already weigh heavily. In Ithete's case, the second hat comes with the formidable duty of stewarding Namibia’s vast, still-untapped mining sector. This role places him at the heart of the country’s economic future.

He is not flamboyant (if one ignores the pipe), nor does he court controversy. Instead, he has become the dependable presence – the man who shows up, who does the handshakes, who makes sure the president is never alone at the podium.

Photographs from state occasions show him leaning in, nodding and clapping just a fraction of a second before the others. If politics is choreography, Ithete has mastered the timing.



Level-headed, no-nonsense

Yet beneath this calm public poise lies a firebrand streak. At the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference on 13 August, Ithete delivered one of his most radical addresses. “We refuse to become another cautionary tale,” he thundered, before declaring: “Every barrel, every cubic foot, must translate into jobs, infrastructure and opportunities for Namibians. Namibians, I say: this is your oil, your gas, your future – rise, prepare and take your place in this new frontier.”

In a more recent appearance at a Swapo regional gathering in the north, he made the case for using resources to subsidise services directly.

“We have natural resources in this country: copper, gold, uranium, diamonds and fish in the sea. Why can we not use these resources to subsidise services, including electricity?” he asked, drawing applause from party members.

This was followed with a warning to investors: “If they are unwilling to adhere to our policies, we will work with those who will come here on our terms.”

These types of remarks have given Ithete a reputation for speaking without varnish, especially on issues of resource sovereignty.

He does not shy away from the word “nationalisation”, at times arguing that if Namibia was bold enough to fight for political independence, it should also be bold enough to take back control when exploitation looms.

His words resonate particularly in a season where green hydrogen projects, offshore oil finds and critical mineral prospects dominate the national agenda.

For all his radical tones, Ithete is also pragmatic. At the 2025 Mining Expo in Windhoek, his speech struck a balance between challenge and cooperation. He called for tighter collaboration between government, industry and communities, insisting that mining companies must not only extract but also invest in education, local empowerment and job creation.

At a pre-African Energy Week event earlier this year, he echoed the same theme, warning against Africa’s old mistakes.

“Namibia must not repeat the history where wealth flows out and poverty stays behind.”



Right place, right time

These well-placed speeches, delivered at conferences, rallies and party gatherings, have positioned him as a minister unafraid to demand a tougher bargain on behalf of his people.

For the ruling party faithful, he is the straight-talker who gives voice to the frustrations of ordinary Namibians.

For investors, he is the reminder that Namibia is no longer content to play the role of junior partner in its own economy.

In a nation charting a course through new energy dreams, offshore oil discoveries and critical mineral potential, Ithete now stands as the minister whose portfolios could determine Namibia’s long-term trajectory.

And yet, his story is not only about policy documents or conferences. It is also about his quiet choreography around the head of state, his readiness to be the first hand extended, the steady voice beside the president’s speeches, the visible loyalty that has carried him from the back benches to the heart of power.

Politics, after all, is as much about timing as it is about vision – and Natangwe Ithete seems to have found both.