Namibia's Agriculture Minister Mac-Albert Hengari has been dismissed from his position after being charged with raping a 16-year-old girl five years ago. Hengari, aged 59, was arrested following an alleged attempt to bribe the now 21-year-old victim to retract her claims. On Monday, he appeared in court where he was denied bail, marking one of the most significant scandals in the tenure of Namibia's first female President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Namibian Agriculture Minister Dismissed Amid Rape Allegations
Namibian Agriculture Minister Dismissed Amid Rape Allegations
Namibia's leadership faces a major controversy after the agriculture minister is sacked following accusations of a historic rape incident involving a minor.
The official dismissal statement from the presidency did not cite specific reasons but confirmed that Hengari was also removed from the National Assembly. Police have confirmed that Hengari faces multiple charges, including kidnapping, rape, and assault, related to the ongoing investigation.
Hengari was appointed to parliament by the president to represent the ruling Swapo party. The case has drawn criticism from the opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change, highlighting it as a failure of leadership and an indicator of the government's ineffective stance on gender-based violence. They emphasized the troubling context of rising gender violence, noting that over 4,800 cases were reported last year in the country of three million.
The Independent Patriots for Change also criticized the vetting process, claiming that the president appointed Hengari despite an ongoing criminal investigation that was reportedly initiated in November 2024. President Nandi-Ndaitwah, who took office last month with an unprecedentedly female-heavy cabinet, was elected with a significant majority in November's elections, securing 58% of the votes.
Hengari's next court hearing is scheduled for June 3, during which he will remain in custody as potential flight risk and possible contact with witnesses are concerns that led to the denial of bail.
For more updates on this developing story, stay tuned to live coverage on rtwnews.com.
Hengari was appointed to parliament by the president to represent the ruling Swapo party. The case has drawn criticism from the opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change, highlighting it as a failure of leadership and an indicator of the government's ineffective stance on gender-based violence. They emphasized the troubling context of rising gender violence, noting that over 4,800 cases were reported last year in the country of three million.
The Independent Patriots for Change also criticized the vetting process, claiming that the president appointed Hengari despite an ongoing criminal investigation that was reportedly initiated in November 2024. President Nandi-Ndaitwah, who took office last month with an unprecedentedly female-heavy cabinet, was elected with a significant majority in November's elections, securing 58% of the votes.
Hengari's next court hearing is scheduled for June 3, during which he will remain in custody as potential flight risk and possible contact with witnesses are concerns that led to the denial of bail.
For more updates on this developing story, stay tuned to live coverage on rtwnews.com.
