Itula demands reasons for Ithete’s dismissal

The official opposition has called on president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to explain the dismissal of former deputy prime minister and industries, mines and energy minister Natangwe Ithete, amid renewed debate over government transparency and anti-corruption efforts.

Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) president Panduleni Itula made these remarks on Friday during a press conference in Windhoek, responding to the president’s state of the nation address (Sona).

Reports last year suggested that Ithete was dismissed after allegedly renewing an expired oil block licence without approval, which violated an existing moratorium.

However, no official explanation for his dismissal has been publicly provided.

“To this day, nobody, including the president, has come out to tell us why she fired him.

Tell us so we can hold those responsible accountable and ensure that others do not repeat it,” Itula said.

He argued that failure to disclose reasons behind such decisions leaves the public in the dark and fuels speculation.

While acknowledging that the president has the constitutional authority to appoint and dismiss officials under Article 32, Itula maintained that transparency remains essential.

“If the president fires people without explaining to the nation that elected her, it creates uncertainty and invites conclusions that may not reflect the truth,” he said.

Itula also criticised what he described as a “gap between government rhetoric and action on corruption”.

He highlighted the country’s declining performance on the Transparency International corruption perception index, which the president referenced during her address.

Namibia scored 46 out of 100, ranking 65th out of 182 countries in 2025.

“The president often says corruption is treason, but under her administration the corruption score has declined faster than before.

Words without action remain just words,” he said.

In her Sona, Nandi-Ndaitwah dismissed calls to explain dismissals, stating that such decisions fall within her executive prerogative.

“I have appointed many ministers and nobody asked why. Now you want me to explain why I relieved someone.

That is between me and those I appoint,” she said.

Itula also raised governance concerns, citing frequent appointments, dismissals and reshuffles within the Cabinet. He questioned when the government would begin delivering tangible results.

“The first year was about promises. In the second year, the team is still being assembled. That leaves only a short window before the next election cycle,” he said.

He added that the IPC has submitted over 300 parliamentary questions that remain unanswered, arguing that the issue is a lack of accountability from the government.
“Every time we hold the government to account, we are told we are merely opposing.

Yet many of our proposals on procurement reform, oil governance, fishing, mining and institutional strengthening have been ignored,” he said.

Defending the president, lawyer Richard Metcalfe says the Constitution grants the head of state broad powers in appointing and dismissing Cabinet members.

“The president is directly elected and is not accountable to the National Assembly in such decisions.

She may appoint or dismiss Cabinet members at her discretion, without obligation to provide reasons,” he says.

Metcalfe adds that no court or institution has the authority to compel the president to justify such decisions, describing demands for explanations as an attempt to undermine executive authority.

Meanwhile, political analyst Sakaria Johannes argues that the government has yet to convincingly demonstrate its commitment to tackling corruption.

He cites recent controversy surrounding the granting of bail of National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia-linked suspects, and questioned delays in filling key positions, including that of deputy prime minister.

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