Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has dismissed Agriculture Minister Mac-Albert Hengari amid serious criminal allegations, the presidency announced on Sunday via a statement on X (formerly Twitter). Invoking Article 32(6) of Namibia’s Constitution, the president formally relieved Hengari of his duties as Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform. His dismissal follows his arrest on Saturday, where he faces multiple charges including rape, gender-based violence (GBV), kidnapping, and attempted bribery, according to local media reports.
Authorities allege that Hengari raped a 21-year-old woman in 2023 and later attempted to bribe the victim to withdraw the charges. Though Hengari reportedly told media outlets he had “resigned as minister,” the presidency clarified that he was officially dismissed. Hengari was a relatively new appointee, having been named Minister in March 2025, shortly after President Nandi-Ndaitwah assumed office and selected him among her top eight parliamentary candidates.https://x.com/NamPresidency/status/1916472463199707537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1916472463199707537%7Ctwgr%5E587167c330631e2b23c14c32f99a8277cf4f8ce4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.africanews.com%2F2025%2F04%2F28%2Fnamibias-president-sacks-agricuture-minister-over-rape-allegations%2F
The police confirmed that investigations are ongoing, and Hengari is expected to face court proceedings in the coming days. His arrest has fueled national conversations around Namibia’s struggles with gender-based violence and accountability among high-ranking officials. President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s swift action has been seen as an attempt to reinforce public trust in her new administration, which has pledged to uphold justice and zero tolerance for abuses of power.
