Namibia’s Agric Minister fired amid rape allegations
Hengari, 59, was taken into custody on Saturday after allegedly attempting to bribe the now 21-year-old woman to withdraw her complaint, according to police reports.
Namibia’s President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has dismissed Agriculture Minister Mac-Albert Hengari following his arrest over allegations of raping a minor five years ago.
Hengari, 59, was taken into custody on Saturday after allegedly attempting to bribe the now 21-year-old woman to withdraw her complaint, according to police reports. Although he has maintained his innocence, Hengari was brought before a magistrate’s court in Windhoek on Monday, where he was refused bail.
While the official announcement from the president’s office did not specify the reasons behind his dismissal, it confirmed that Hengari had also been removed from his parliamentary seat. He had been serving as a Swapo party representative after being nominated by President Nandi-Ndaitwah.
The allegations against Hengari include kidnapping, rape, assault, and obstruction of justice. His co-accused also remains in custody, with their next court appearance scheduled for 3 June. Authorities cited the risk of witness interference and potential flight as grounds for denying bail.
This scandal marks the first major political crisis for President Nandi-Ndaitwah, who assumed office just last month. Her administration had been celebrated for its historic inclusion of women, appointing nine female ministers out of 14 cabinet positions.
The Independent Patriots for Change, an opposition party, condemned Hengari’s appointment, arguing it revealed flaws in the government's vetting procedures. The party noted that an investigation into Hengari had allegedly been launched as far back as November 2024 and criticized the government’s handling of gender-based violence — an issue they described as endemic, citing over 4,800 cases reported last year in the country of three million people.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, won last year’s election with 58% of the vote, making history as Namibia’s first female head of state. She is a veteran of the Swapo party, which has governed Namibia since its independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.
