Rape accused Minister dismissed
Namibia's President has dismissed Agriculture Minister Mac Hengari, her office announced Sunday, as reports emerged that he is under investigation for alleged rape of a minor, according to the Citizen Digital. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's statement came as a police spokesperson confirmed media reports that an investigation had been opened into Hengari. Hengari had only been appointed to the government post in March. According to Namibian press reports, Hengari may also face prosecution for abduction and abortion, which is illegal in the conservative southern African country. Namibia's main opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change, said: ‘This scandal represents a profound failure of leadership and exposes the hollowness of government rhetoric on gender-based violence.’ Since March, Namibia has been led by Nandi-Ndaitwah, the first woman to become President of the sparsely populated and uranium-rich country. Nandi-Ndaitwah had been criticised for appointing Hengari ‘despite a criminal investigation having allegedly been opened in November 2024"’ Namibia, with a population of three million, recorded 1 378 rapes in 2022, out of a total of 5 356 cases of gender-based violence.