WINDHOEK, Namibia — Namibia’s Agriculture Minister Mac-Albert Hengari has been dismissed from government and parliament following his arrest in connection with the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl five years ago. The now 59-year-old politician, a member of the ruling Swapo party, was nominated to parliament by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who made the decision to remove him.
Hengari was arrested on Saturday after allegedly attempting to bribe the victim, now 21, in a bid to convince her to withdraw the case. He faces multiple serious charges, including rape, kidnapping, and assault, and was also charged with obstructing justice during a court appearance on Monday.
Hengari and his co-accused remain in custody until their next hearing on 3 June, after being denied bail due to flight risk concerns and potential interference with witnesses.
This marks the first major scandal of President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s term, which began just last month. While the presidential office did not state the official reason for Hengari’s dismissal, the swift move reflects the gravity of the allegations.
The Independent Patriots for Change, Namibia’s opposition party, condemned the appointment of Hengari, claiming a criminal investigation was already underway in November 2024. They called the case a “profound failure of leadership” amid Namibia’s alarming gender-based violence statistics — with 4,814 cases reported last year in a nation of just 3 million people.
The scandal has cast a shadow over the historic cabinet announced by Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia’s first female president, who appointed nine women to her 14-member cabinet, including the vice president.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, won the presidency in November 2024 with 58% of the vote, representing Swapo — the liberation movement-turned-ruling party since Namibia’s independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.
