TIRI MASAWI
Panduleni Itula, leader of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), has questioned President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s honesty after she said her children have no direct or indirect involvement in the oil and gas industry.
Itula made the remarks during a press conference held today in response to the president’s denial during a Cabinet meeting earlier this month.
Itula claims that two of Nandi-Ndaitwah’s sons are involved in the oil business.
“Either the president did not know what her son’s company does, or the President knew and chose to mislead the nation. Neither answer is acceptable for a Head of State,” Itula said.
He said one of the sons, Nande Ndaitwah is the chief executive officer of Tradeport Namibia, which is an anchor tenant at the Port of Lüderitz and distributes diesel.
Itula added that Ndelitungapo (Ndeli) Ndaitwah, a lawyer, co-founded Vaneli Foods CC, which is listed as a subsidiary of Millennium Investment Holdings on the company’s website.
“The same Millennium that owns 30% of Validus Energy, which co-founded Nasan Energies, and whose CEO chairs the forum the First Gentleman is patron of,” Itula said.
Itula said Tradeport was founded in 2018 during Nandi-Ndaitwah’s tenure as deputy prime minister, in partnership with state-owned enterprises Namport and TransNamib.
“It became the anchor customer at Lüderitz without competitive tender, now claiming a N$3 billion economic contribution and moving 80 000 tons of manganese per month,” he said.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah earlier this month dismissed claims that her family has taken control of the oil and gas industry in Namibia as misleading.
“I state categorically and without reservation that my children have no interests, direct or indirect, in the oil and gas sector. I therefore require that the journalist concerned retract the statement and issue a public apology, or, in the alternative, present credible and verifiable evidence to substantiate the allegations,” she said in a statement at the time.
The president added that her children, like any Namibian citizen, have the right to participate in the country’s economy.
“They do so to contribute to national development, the well-being of our people, and their own lawful livelihoods. We will not be faulted for exercising this right as long as it is done within the confines of the law,” she said.
PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE
Itula said an Ernst & Young forensic audit found prima facie evidence of potential fraud and theft” in Tradeport’s relationship with TransNamib, including procuring on behalf of the state-owned entity in a manner that allegedly bypassed procurement law.
“The EY report was buried. No Public Accounts Committee investigation. No Anti Corruption Commission action,” Itula said.
According to Itula, Tradeport already operates at Lüderitz in fuel distribution, port handling, rail coordination, storage and wholesale logistics.
“An oil supply base requires exactly the same services,” he said.
He added “In August 2025, Namport issued an open Design, Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (DBOOT) tender for the Lüderitz oil supply base with strict pre-qualification criteria. Days later, the tender was cancelled. No public explanation. The announcement was removed from social media. Reuters reported the cancellation internationally.”
Namibia Business Review has forwarded questions to Namport to respond to Itula’s allegations.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
IPC member of parliament Rodney Cloete has registered his intention to question works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi over the president’s children’s role in the industry.
“Does the minister accept that Tradeport Namibia’s publicly listed business of fuel imports and wholesale distribution constitutes an interest in the oil and gas sector, and if so, how does this reconcile with the President’s categorical denial of 3 February 2026?” Cloete asked.
He also wants the minister to explain on what basis Tradeport Namibia was installed as the anchor tenant at the Port of Lüderitz without a competitive tender process, and whether any conflict-of-interest assessment was conducted.
Cloete further asked what action the government has taken on the Ernst & Young forensic audit findings of prima facie fraud and theft in the Tradeport–TransNamib relationship, and why the report has not been referred to the Anti-Corruption Commission.
He also asked whether Tradeport Namibia has submitted any expression of interest, bid or proposal in connection with the Lüderitz oil supply base project.
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