Following his arrest, the Namibian Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Mac-Albert Hengari, has resigned from his position.
The Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) reported this on Sunday, citing the Press Secretary at the Presidency, Alfredo Hengari.
Hengari had only been in the role for 27 days, having been appointed by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on March 22nd.
According to NBC, Hengari was arrested on Saturday along with another individual.
NBC reported that Police Inspector General Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo stated that Hengari would face formal charges on Sunday and was expected to appear in court on Monday.
Shikongo did not specify the reasons for the arrest but confirmed that Hengari was under investigation for 11 charges, including kidnapping, rape, and assault.
NBC further reported that Hengari’s arrest followed an alleged attempt to bribe a victim to withdraw a case involving accusations of repeated sexual contact with a minor between 2019 and September 2024.
Shikongo stated that the circumstances leading to the arrest left the police with “no option” but to take the former minister into custody. He also confirmed that the person arrested alongside Hengari is related to the victim.
Hengari’s resignation adds to a small number of instances in Namibia where ministers have resigned after being arrested.
In 2019, former ministers Sacky Shanghala and Bernhard Esau resigned due to their implication in a significant corruption scandal known as the “Fishrot” case, which involved allegations of bribery and money laundering in the fishing industry.
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