Namibian Minister Dismissed Amid Rape Allegations

In a significant political shake-up, Namibia's agriculture minister has been removed from his position following serious allegations of rape and attempts to bribe the victim, marking a critical moment for the leadership of the new female president.

 

Namibia's agriculture minister, Mac-Albert Hengari, has been dismissed from his position after allegations arose that he raped a 16-year-old girl five years prior. The 59-year-old minister was arrested on Saturday for allegedly trying to bribe the now 21-year-old victim to retract her accusations against him, according to police reports. Denying any wrongdoing, Hengari appeared in court on Monday, where a magistrate denied him bail.

This incident marks the first significant controversy for Namibia's newly elected president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who took office last month. While a statement from the president's office did not explicitly cite the reasons for Hengari's dismissal, it confirmed he was also removed from the National Assembly. Nandi-Ndaitwah had appointed Hengari as a representative of the ruling party, Swapo, following his nomination to parliament.

The police indicate that Hengari is under investigation for various charges linked to the case, which include kidnapping, rape, and assault. His court appearance in Windhoek resulted in him being held in custody with a co-accused until June 3 when their next hearing is scheduled, as authorities deemed them potential flight risks capable of tampering with witnesses.

Opposition party Independent Patriots for Change criticized Hengari's arrest, labeling it a "profound failure of leadership" that reflects the government's ineffectiveness in tackling gender-based violence, an issue of significant concern in Namibia where 4,814 cases of gender violence were reported last year. They also questioned the vetting process used for appointing Hengari, pointing out that a criminal investigation had ostensibly been ongoing since November 2024.

Nandi-Ndaitwah, who promises a reformative cabinet with significant female representation—featuring nine women out of 14 members—won the previous election in November with a commanding 58% of the vote. This situation unfolds as the Swapo party, currently in power since Namibia's independence in 1990, continues to confront challenging issues regarding gender violence and leadership accountability.