Namibia's agriculture minister, Mac-Albert Hengari, was relieved of his duties after being implicated in a five-year-old rape case involving a 16-year-old girl, now 21. He was arrested on Saturday for allegedly trying to bribe the victim to retract her accusations against him, according to police reports. Hengari, 59, has consistently denied the allegations and appeared in court on Monday, where his request for bail was denied.
This incident represents the first significant controversy for Namibia's first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who assumed office last month. While the official announcement of Hengari's dismissal did not specify the reasons, it was confirmed he has also been removed from the National Assembly.
He is currently facing multiple charges, including kidnapping, rape, and assault, as the police continue their investigation into the case. During the court proceedings in Windhoek, he was charged with obstructing justice. Alongside a co-accused, he remains in custody until their next court appearance on June 3, with the judge citing flight risk and potential witness tampering as reasons for denying bail.
The opposition party, Independent Patriots for Change, condemned Hengari's charges as a "profound failure of leadership" and criticized the government's failure to combat the issue of gender-based violence effectively. The party pointed out that there were over 4,814 reported cases of gender violence in the previous year in a nation of three million people.
They also highlighted concerns about the president's vetting processes, indicating that Hengari had been appointed despite a criminal investigation reportedly initiated in November 2024. President Nandi-Ndaitwah previously formed a cabinet that emphasized female representation, appointing nine women out of fourteen members.
With a notable victory in the November election—receiving 58% of the vote—Nandi-Ndaitwah has committed to addressing such social issues in her administration, alongside her longstanding affiliation with the ruling Swapo party that has governed Namibia since its independence in 1990.
Additional insights and updates on this developing story can be found through various news outlets, including BBC Africa.
