Itula alleges president’s son has oil business interests

Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) president Dr Panduleni Itula has accused President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of misleading the public over her family's involvement in the oil and gas sector.

In a strongly worded media statement issued yesterday, Itula claimed the president’s 3 February remarks that her children had “no interests, direct or indirect, in the oil and gas sector” were devoid of any truth.

Concerns about the president’s control over the sector arose after she resolved to move the upstream oil mandate from the ministry of mines and energy and place it under the Presidency. An amendment is being sought to relevant laws to legitimise the change.

Itula yesterday alleged that Tate Nande Ndaitwah, the president’s son, is CEO and co-founder of Tradeport Namibia (Pty) Ltd, a company he said lists “bonded diesel” and “fuel imports and wholesale distribution” among its core business activities.

According to Itula, Tradeport operates from the Port of Lüderitz – earmarked for a proposed N$4 billion oil supply base – and employs a head of fuel distribution.

Diesel, Itula argued, falls squarely within the petroleum value chain and is regulated under Namibia’s petroleum laws.

“Either the president did not know what her son’s company does, or she knew and chose to mislead the nation,” Itula charged.

First gentleman’s patronage questioned

The IPC leader further raised concerns about the role of the first gentleman, retired Lieutenant-General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, who in July 2025 accepted patronage of the Namibia Youth Energy Forum (NYEF).

Itula said the forum’s advisory board is chaired by businessman Miguel Hamutenya, who he described as having interests in petroleum importation, wholesale distribution and fuel retail networks through various corporate structures.

He alleged that the NYEF had met the presidency’s upstream petroleum unit at State House and hosted a flagship energy event at Droombos Estate, a property linked to Millennium Investment Holdings.

Tradeport and Lüderitz oil base

Turning to procurement matters, Itula criticised the cancellation of Namport’s open DBOOT tender for the Lüderitz oil supply base in August 2025, saying no public explanation was provided.

He outlined a sequence in which an unsolicited bid was initially rejected, followed by the issuance and rapid cancellation of an open tender and the subsequent involvement of the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida) and Guinas Investments, a company owned by Swapo.

“What was rejected at the front door came back through the side door,” Itula claimed, suggesting the process demonstrated intent to bypass standard procurement channels.

Petroleum Amendment Bill opposed

Central to the IPC’s objection is the Petroleum Amendment Bill tabled in February, which proposes transferring petroleum licensing authority from the energy ministry to the Presidency.

Itula argued that no president facing alleged conflicts of interest should have direct control over petroleum exploration licence (PEL) approvals.

He compared the situation to the Fishrot corruption scandal, warning that the oil sector’s scale – potentially worth hundreds of billions of dollars – renders transparency and institutional safeguards critical.

“The IPC opposes the Petroleum Amendment Bill in its entirety,” he said, calling on members of parliament, including Swapo members, to reject it.

Tradeport’s official website describes the company as a bulk logistics and transport firm, specialising in the movement of manganese lumpy ore, gypsum, fertiliser, lime and bonded diesel. Its services include road and rail transport, bulk handling, loading and shipping, as well as fuel imports and wholesale distribution, among others.