Namibia's Hengari Dismissed Amid Rape, Bribery Allegations

Namibia's Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Mac-Albert Hengari, has been dismissed and has resigned following his arrest on multiple serious charges, including rape, kidnapping, bribery, and assault. The allegations involve repeated sexual abuse of a minor between 2019 and 2024, with Hengari accused of attempting to bribe the now 21-year-old victim to withdraw her complaint. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who recently appointed Hengari and has championed gender equality in her new cabinet, removed him from office and the National Assembly after the police confirmed ongoing investigations and multiple charges. The case has drawn criticism from opposition parties, who cite it as indicative of broader issues of gender-based violence and failures in leadership vetting processes. Hengari's arrest and resignation have sparked comparisons to previous high-profile corruption scandals in Namibia and have intensified scrutiny of the government’s handling of gender violence. The victim is reportedly under police protection, and investigations continue as Hengari is expected to face formal charges in court.