Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources, Tobie Aupindi is advocating for local processing of resources and genuine Namibian ownership instead of what he describes as "rent-a-black-face" empowerment deals.

Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources gathered in Swakopmund for a capacity-building workshop.

At the opening, the chairperson, Dr Tobie Aupindi, called for urgent reforms and action in the country's mining and energy sectors.

He criticised the export of raw materials while jobs and profits are created elsewhere.

"Namibia must transition from being merely a supplier of raw materials to becoming a producer of finished and semi-finished products. But we can't always just be talking about this. These are policies that bureaucrats in government, directors, commissioners, ministers, and executive directors have. But what is lacking is the action."

He also called for stronger local ownership requirements in the mining, oil and gas sectors, saying communities are still excluded from benefiting meaningfully from the country's natural resources.

"And we can't keep talking about these issues every day. I'm not talking about renting a black face. That's the new normal now. They are renting a new black face, and then they say they have empowered local communities. It's unacceptable. So we cannot be spectators. Honourable members, distinguished guests, the world beneath us will belong first and foremost to the people of Namibia.

Therefore, the people of Namibia must participate meaningfully in the extraction, management, and economic benefit generated by these resources."

The Erongo Governor, Nathalia |Goagoses, echoed similar frustrations, saying government discussions and workshops are failing to produce visible change for ordinary Namibians.

"I'm still hearing from you that it is capital intensive; a whole honourable member will tell you it is not possible; it's too capital intensive; it will never work; Namibians will never get that right to have a mining exploration business. Already that tells me maybe the way we are deployed needs to be reviewed."

The leaders believe Namibia is at a critical moment where a lack of action could result in the country's natural resources benefiting only a few instead of achieving broad-based economic transformation.