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Summary
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has fired Agriculture Minister Mac-Albert Hengari after his arrest on rape, kidnapping, and other serious charges.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has dismissed Agriculture Minister Mac-Albert Hengari following his arrest on serious charges of rape. The decisions mark a major political leadership in her administration after recently taking over the country’s presidency.
Mac-Albert Hengari, 59, was arrested after attempting to bribe a 21-year-old to withdraw reports that he raped her when she was 16. According to police, he is also under investigation for kidnapping, assault, and attempting to pervert the course of justice. On April 28, Mac-Albert appeared before a magistrate in Windhoek and was denied bail. The court cited risks of flight and witness tampering. He is expected to remain in custody until his next court appearance on June 3.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah is the first woman to lead Namibia. She was sworn in as president on March 21, 2025, during the nation’s 35th Independence Day celebration. Following Hengari’s arrest, President Nandi-Ndaitwah invoked Article 32(6) of the Constitution. The Article states:
“Subject to the provisions of this Constitution or any other law, any person appointed by the President pursuant to the powers vested in him or her by this Constitution or any other law may be removed by the President by the same process through which such person was appointed.”
Using this provision, she terminated Mac-Albert Hengari’s appointment as Agriculture Minister. He was also removed from the National Assembly, where he served as a presidential nominee for the ruling SWAPO party.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah, who recently announced a cabinet with a historic majority of women, including the vice-president and pledged to abolish public university tuition by 2026, is already earning praise for her bold and principled leadership in the face of tough decisions.
Leading Ladies Africa, a women-focused non-profit organisation, celebrated her decision online, noting that her bold approach signals that accountability applies to everyone.
“This kind of leadership helps address the systemic challenges that have allowed powerful figures to avoid consequences for their actions. And we are here for it!”
