WINDHOEK – Mac-Albert Hengari, Namibia's Minister of Agriculture, has been dismissed from his post and the National Assembly following accusations of raping a 16-year-old girl five years ago. The dismissal marks the first significant scandal for Namibia’s first female President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, since she assumed office last month.
Hengari, 59, was arrested on Saturday after allegedly attempting to bribe the victim, now 21, to withdraw the case against him, according to police reports. He is also under investigation for multiple charges related to the case, including kidnapping, rape, and assault.
The statement released from the president’s office did not specify the reasons for Hengari's dismissal but confirmed his removal from both his ministerial position and his seat in the National Assembly. Hengari had been nominated to parliament by the president to represent the ruling party, Swapo.
On Monday, Hengari appeared before a magistrates’ court in the capital, Windhoek, facing a charge of obstructing the course of justice. He and his co-accused will remain in custody until 3 June, when the next hearing is scheduled. They were denied bail on the grounds that they could be a flight risk and might attempt to contact witnesses.
The opposition Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has strongly criticised the situation, stating that Hengari’s arrest “on allegations of rape, kidnapping and forced abortion” represents a “profound failure of leadership and exposes the hollowness of government rhetoric on gender-based violence”.
The IPC further highlighted that the case occurs against a backdrop of “widespread gender violence” in Namibia, with 4,814 gender-violence cases reported last year in a country with a population of three million.
The opposition party also questioned the vetting process, alleging that the president appointed Hengari “despite a criminal investigation having allegedly been opened in November 2024”.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, won November’s election with a 58% share of the vote. She is a long-term member of Swapo, which has been in power since the country gained independence in 1990 after a protracted struggle against apartheid South Africa.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah unveiled a cabinet last month that was hailed as ground-breaking for its female representation, with nine out of 14 members being women, including the vice-president.
Hengari has denied any wrongdoing in the matter. The case continues to unfold, raising serious questions about accountability and the handling of gender-based violence allegations within Namibia's political landscape.
