Namibia's agriculture minister, Mac-Albert Hengari, has been dismissed from his position amid serious allegations of raping a 16-year-old girl five years ago. The reports surfaced after Hengari was arrested on Saturday when police accused him of trying to bribe the now 21-year-old victim to retract her accusations against him.
The 59-year-old minister has denied any wrongdoing, and on Monday, he appeared in court where he was denied bail. This incident marks the first significant controversy for Namibia's first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who took office just last month.
While the president's office did not explicitly cite the reasons for Hengari's dismissal, they confirmed that he has also been removed from the National Assembly. Hengari was appointed to parliament by President Nandi-Ndaitwah to represent the ruling Swapo party. Authorities have stated that he is under investigation for multiple serious charges, including rape, kidnapping, and assault.
During a hearing in Windhoek, Hengari, alongside a co-accused, faced a charge of obstructing the course of justice. Both individuals remain in custody until their next court appearance scheduled for June 3. Bail was denied due to concerns they could potentially flee or contact witnesses related to the case.
In response to Hengari's allegations, the opposition party, Independent Patriots for Change, condemned the incident as a glaring failure of leadership and highlighted the government's insufficient efforts to combat gender-based violence. The party pointed out that the brutality surrounding such violence is notably high, with 4,814 reported cases from last year alone in a nation of just three million people.
Criticism has also been directed towards the president's vetting process, indicating that Hengari was appointed despite an ongoing criminal investigation that supposedly began in November 2024.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah, who won 58% of the vote in last November's election, recently unveiled a cabinet featuring a landmark representation of women. The cabinet comprises nine women out of 14 members, including the vice-president, emphasizing her commitment to gender equality in leadership.
The nation will continue to watch closely as this case unfolds, amidst broader discussions on the need to address gender-based violence in Namibia.
