Namibia's political landscape is reeling as the agriculture minister, Mac-Albert Hengari, has been dismissed following serious allegations swirling around his involvement in a 2018 rape case. The 59-year-old has been accused of raping a 16-year-old girl, who is now 21, and is also charged with attempting to bribe her to withdraw her testimony against him.
Hengari, who has denied all allegations, was arrested on Saturday and appeared in court on Monday, where he was denied bail amid fears he might flee or interfere with witnesses. His dismissal marks a troubling moment for Namibia’s first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who just took office and is already facing scrutiny as this scandal unfolds in the nation's political arena.
The president's office has not specifically addressed the reasons for Hengari's removal from both his ministerial role and the National Assembly; however, police have confirmed he is under investigation for multiple charges, including kidnapping, rape, and assault. The circumstances surrounding his arrest have drawn criticism from the opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change, which accused the government of failing to address the pervasive issue of gender-based violence.
According to their statements, at least 4,814 cases of gender violence were recorded in Namibia last year within a population of about three million people. The opposition highlights that the nation’s government rhetoric on gender-based violence is devoid of substance, particularly as Hengari was appointed despite reportedly being under investigation since late 2024.
As Nandi-Ndaitwah attempts to navigate this crisis, she recently formed a cabinet lauded for its female representation, including nine out of 14 members being women. She won the presidency in November with a significant majority and champions progressive governance, but the Hengari incident has raised crucial questions about leadership accountability and the vetting process for politicians in the country.
