By Ziyah News Reporter
Namibia’s Agriculture Minister, Mac-Albert Hengari, has been removed from his post and the National Assembly amid serious allegations of rape involving a minor.
Hengari, 59, was detained on Saturday after reportedly attempting to bribe the victim, who is now 21, to retract her accusation.
Hengari appeared in court on Monday facing multiple charges, including kidnapping, rape, and assault. He was denied bail, with the magistrate expressing concerns that he might flee or attempt to contact witnesses. The case against him has garnered
The allegations represent a pressing challenge for President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who has made strides toward promoting gender equality in governance since taking office last month.
Nandi-Ndaitwah’s cabinet includes nine women out of fourteen members, a move hailed as groundbreaking. However, Hengari’s arrest comes as a stark reminder of the ongoing issues related to gender-based violence in the country.
The opposition party, Independent Patriots for Change, criticized Hengari’s appointment, claiming it reflected inadequacies in the vetting process.
They pointed out that the government has repeatedly failed to address the alarming rates of gender violence, with 4,814 cases reported last year in a nation of three million. The party labeled Hengari’s arrest a “profound failure of leadership,” underscoring the urgency for effective action against gender-based violence.
Hengari was nominated to parliament by the president as a representative of the ruling party, Swapo. As investigations continue, the president’s office has not disclosed specific reasons for his dismissal, but the case has undoubtedly put pressure on Nandi-Ndaitwah’s administration to address not only the allegations against Hengari but also the broader issue of gender violence in Namibia.
Hengari and his co-accused remain in custody pending a hearing scheduled for June 3, as the public watches closely to see how this situation will unfold and how it may impact the current administration’s initiatives for gender justice.