Swapo MP Clemencia Coetzee says the Petroleum Bill rightly realises strategic petroleum powers of the office of the President.

Coetzee points out that the draft legislation ensures that decisions affecting the country's most critical natural resources are made at the highest executive level with accountability in full accordance with the Namibian Constitution.

Coetzee said this during her contribution to the second reading of the Petroleum Bill.

She said the Bill preserves and strengthens parliamentary scrutiny and statutory reporting obligations, including the tabling of reports on royalty, remissions and regulatory outcomes, to ensure that Parliament maintains its constitutional oversight role and upholds transparency, accountability and democratic control over Namibian petroleum resources.

"Honourable Speaker, furthermore, the Bill provides for the appointment of a Director General and a DVD Director General based on principle stance, qualifications and experience, strengthening technical oversight, transparency and institutional capacity, enhancing conflict of interest and disclosure requirements, safeguarding the public interest and promoting trust in the management of our resources."

IPC MP Michael Mulunga, opposing the Bill, said the government is trading a system of safe and shared oversight for a system of absolute executive control, where, according to him, the only thing protecting Namibians is the hope that the executive at the desk does not make mistakes.

"Is this a necessary modernisation to get the oil flowing fast? Or a blueprint for elite capture? A trap that risks turning Namibia into a classical resource case victim. The bill relies almost entirely on the integrity of an individual rather than the strength of independent institutions."