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| Namibian Agriculture Minister Mac-Albert Hengari sacked over rape allegations | Namibian Agriculture Minister Mac-Albert Hengari sacked over rape allegations |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Mac-Albert Hengari was nominated to parliament by the president to represent the ruling party, Swapo | Mac-Albert Hengari was nominated to parliament by the president to represent the ruling party, Swapo |
| Namibia's agriculture minister has been sacked after being accused of raping a 16-year-old girl five years ago. | Namibia's agriculture minister has been sacked after being accused of raping a 16-year-old girl five years ago. |
| Mac-Albert Hengari was arrested on Saturday after allegedly attempting to bribe the victim, now 21, to withdraw the case against him, the police say. | Mac-Albert Hengari was arrested on Saturday after allegedly attempting to bribe the victim, now 21, to withdraw the case against him, the police say. |
| Hengari, 59, who has denied any wrongdoing, appeared in court on Monday and was denied bail. | |
| This is the first major scandal for Namibia's first female President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, since she took office last month. | This 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 Assembly. | 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 Assembly. |
| Hengari was nominated to parliament by the president to represent the ruling party, Swapo. | Hengari was nominated to parliament by the president to represent the ruling party, Swapo. |
| He is under investigation for multiple charges related to the case including kidnapping, rape and assault, police say. | He is under investigation for multiple charges related to the case including kidnapping, rape and assault, police say. |
| From freedom fighter to Namibia's first female president | From freedom fighter to Namibia's first female president |
| 'Fees have fallen' in Namibia as president announces free higher education | 'Fees have fallen' in Namibia as president announces free higher education |
| On Monday he appeared before a magistrates' court in the capital Windhoek facing a charge of obstructing the course of justice. | |
| He and his co-accused will remain in custody until 3 June when the next hearing is scheduled. They were denied bail on the grounds that they could be a flight risk and could seek to contact witnesses. | |
| The 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". | The 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 million. | 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 million. |
| The party also criticised the vetting process, saying the president had appointed Hengari "despite a criminal investigation having allegedly been opened in November 2024". | The 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 vice-president. | President Nandi-Ndaitwah last month unveiled a cabinet described as ground-breaking for female representation - with nine out 14 members being women, including the vice-president. |
| The 72-year-old won November's election with a 58% share of the vote. | The 72-year-old won November's election with a 58% share of the vote. |
| She 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. | She 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. |
| Additional reporting by Shingai Nyoka | Additional reporting by Shingai Nyoka |
| More about Namibia from the BBC: | More about Namibia from the BBC: |
| LISTEN: Africa Daily's interview with Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah | LISTEN: Africa Daily's interview with Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah |
| Sam Nujoma: The revolutionary leader who liberated Namibia | Sam Nujoma: The revolutionary leader who liberated Namibia |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |