**Namibian Minister Removed Amid Serious Allegations of Sexual Assault**

The recent scandal raises urgent concerns regarding leadership accountability and the handling of gender-based violence in the country.

Namibia's agriculture minister, Mac-Albert Hengari, has been removed from his position following allegations of raping a 16-year-old girl five years prior. Police reports indicate that Hengari, 59, was arrested over the weekend for allegedly attempting to bribe the victim—who is now 21—to retract her accusations. Hengari has denied the charges but has been denied bail while facing multiple serious charges, including kidnapping and assault.

This marks a significant scandal for Namibia's recently inaugurated first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who took office just last month. While the official communication regarding Hengari's dismissal did not disclose specific reasons, it has been made clear that he has also been expelled from the National Assembly. Furthermore, he appeared in a Windhoek court on Monday, facing additional charges of obstructing justice, with his next hearing scheduled for June 3.

The opposition party, Independent Patriots for Change, has condemned Hengari's arrest, describing it as a stark failure of leadership and a symptom of deeper systemic issues related to gender-based violence in Namibia. The nation reported over 4,814 cases of gender-related violence in the past year for a population of about three million. Critics argue that the president's vetting process has come under scrutiny, especially as accusations indicate that a criminal investigation may have been opened against Hengari as far back as November 2024.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah's recent cabinet appointments were hailed for enhancing female representation, with nine out of 14 members being women—including the vice president. Emerging from a political party that has held power since Namibia's independence in 1990, she secured her position with a significant electoral victory of 58%. The unfolding events surrounding Hengari's case highlight the challenges that remain in combatting gender-based violence within the nation.