Namibia’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform, Mac-Albert Hengari, has resigned following his arrest on charges involving serious criminal offenses. The resignation was confirmed by Alfredo Hengari, Press Secretary at the Presidency, in a statement reported by the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) on Sunday.
Hengari, who held the ministerial post for just 27 days after being appointed by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on March 22, was taken into police custody on Saturday. The arrest followed an ongoing investigation into several serious allegations. According to Police Inspector General Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, Hengari is facing multiple charges, including kidnapping, rape, and assault. Although specific details about the case were not immediately released, Hengari is reportedly linked to a high-profile case involving attempts to bribe a victim to withdraw charges related to sexual contact with a minor between 2019 and 2024.
Shikongo confirmed that Hengari will face formal charges by Sunday and is scheduled to appear in court the following day. He also noted that the individual arrested alongside Hengari is related to the victim, adding further complexity to the case. The Inspector General indicated that the events leading to Hengari’s arrest left law enforcement with no option but to take him into custody.
Hengari’s resignation follows a rare but significant trend in Namibia’s political sphere where ministers have stepped down following involvement in criminal investigations. In 2019, former ministers Sacky Shanghala and Bernhard Esau resigned after being implicated in the “Fishrot” scandal, a major corruption case linked to bribery and money laundering within Namibia’s fishing industry.
The resignation of Hengari underscores ongoing concerns about accountability within the government and the judiciary’s role in addressing corruption and serious criminal conduct at the highest levels of public office. As the investigation into Hengari’s actions continues, the public will be closely watching how Namibia’s legal system handles these grave allegations.