Opinion – Namibia’s oil belongs to us, not political egos

The discovery of oil in Namibia should be more than a moment of national excitement but one of national awakening. For decades, many African countries have celebrated natural resource discoveries, only to see corruption, poor planning, political greed, and weak policies leave ordinary citizens in poverty while a small elite enriches itself. Namibia now stands at a historic crossroads. The decisions made today will determine whether oil becomes a blessing for all Namibians or another painful African resource tragedy. The true excitement should not be the oil itself, but the development of strong national policies that guarantee direct benefits for the people of Namibia.

Countries such as Qatar have demonstrated how resource wealth can transform the lives of citizens through deliberate policy decisions. Their model and that of Norway are not perfect, but there is important lessons Namibia can adapt to its own reality. Qatar invested its energy wealth into its citizens through zero or minimal taxation, subsidised utilities, free healthcare, fully funded education, housing support, and strong public investment funds designed to protect future generations. Citizens are prioritised in employment opportunities, and the country strategically uses natural resource revenues to create long-term prosperity.