28-04-2025
Namibian Agriculture Minister Mac-Albert Hengari sacked over rape allegations
Namibia's agriculture minister has been sacked after being accused of raping a 16-year-old girl five years Hengari was arrested on Saturday after allegedly attempting to bribe the victim, now 21, to withdraw the case against him, local media quote the police as who has denied any wrongdoing, is expected to appear in court in the coming is the first major scandal for Namibia's first female President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, since she took office last month.
The statement from the president's office did not indicate the reasons for the dismissal but said Hengari had also been dismissed from the National was nominated to parliament by the president to represent the ruling party, is under investigations for multiple charges related to the case including kidnapping, rape and assault, local media freedom fighter to Namibia's first female president'Fees have fallen' in Namibia as president announces free higher educationThe opposition Independent Patriots for Change said Hengari's arrest "on allegations of rape, kidnapping and forced abortion" was a "profound failure of leadership and exposes the hollowness of government rhetoric on gender-based violence".It said the case came against a backdrop of "widespread gender violence", with 4,814 gender-violence cases reported last year. The country has a population of three party also criticised the vetting process, saying the president had appointed Hengari "despite a criminal investigation having allegedly been opened in November 2024".President Nandi-Ndaitwah last month unveiled a cabinet described as ground-breaking for female representation - with nine out 14 members being women, including the 72-year-old won November's election with a 58% share of the is a long-term member of Swapo – which has been in power since the country gained independence in 1990 after a long struggle against apartheid South Africa.
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