Minister Hengari rape allegations: Analyst calls for resignation

Political analyst Rui Tyitende says minister of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform Mac Hengari should consider resigning.

This comes after the police have confirmed he is being investigated in connection with 11 possible charges, including rape, abortion, and kidnapping.

A police report says Hengari is also faced with allegations of defeating the course of justice, assault by threat, crimen injuria, abduction, administering substances in contravention of the Immoral Practices Act, pointing a firearm, supplying liquor to a minor, and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

“How can the minister possibly execute his crucial national mandates under such a cloud of doubt? Will he be in the right state of mind to attend to policy matters while facing allegations of rape?” Tyitende asked yesterday.

“He needs to do the honourable thing and resign, and [president Netumbo] Nandi-Ndaitwah needs to immediately ensure that the legal framework that governs the vetting of public officials includes ministers and other senior politicians to prevent this from happening in the future,” he said.

Tyitende, however, said the phrase ‘innocent until proven guilty’ signifies the legal principle of the presumption of innocence.

“He has not received his first pay cheque yet and is already facing a barrage of allegations, and quite damning at that.”

He further asks whether Hengari would be able to contribute to debates about sexual violence, including gender-based violence, while facing such allegations.

The president first gained ministerial status in 1996 as director general of women’s affairs in the Office of the President, where she served until 2000.

In 2000 she was promoted to minister and given the women affairs and child welfare portfolio.

POLICE INTENSIFY INVESTIGATIONS

The case involving Hengari was opened at Oshakati in November 2024, and has been transferred to Windhoek.

National police spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi yesterday told The Namibian Hengari is indeed a suspect in the case.

“Yes, he is considered a suspect, as the police are busy carrying out an investigation,” she said.

According to a police source, no arrest has been made, but Hengari is suspected to have raped the alleged victim on several occasions between 2019 and September 2024.

DENIAL

The minister has, however, denied any wrongdoing. He told The Namibian on Monday the truth would eventually be revealed.

“When all is said and done, the truth always prevails,” he said.

In a lawyer’s letter to activist Michael Amushelelo he said he had not been contacted by the police yet.

Lawyer Loini Shikale-Ambondo demanded that Amushelelo provide the alleged victim and her child’s full details by 4 April for a paternity test.

“Hengari denies the paternity of the alleged child and is willing to undergo a paternity test at a duly registered, reputable and mutually agreed to entity to establish the truth.”

Although inspector general Joseph Shikongo supports the investigation, he was yesterday unable to comment on the findings of the test and referred all questions to the police’s media department.

“I spoke with NBC earlier this morning, but I am currently unable to comment on the matter as I am dealing with a death in my family. Please get in touch with the deputy commissioner,” he said.

In an earlier conversation, Shikongo said the alleged victim (now 21) has been put under police protection amid the ongoing investigation.

He said she was moved to a safe house, since she is displaying suicidal behaviour.

Shikongo said this in response to allegations that the woman was kidnapped by the police.

“The police have handed them [the woman, her mother and her baby] over to a social worker, because the victim in recent days developed some suicidal thoughts,” he said last week.

TIMING

Human rights activist Rosa Namises is questioning the timing of the investigation, asking why the charges were brought forward a month after Hengari was appointed as minister.

“Why are we hounding the man now? Is it because he is not liked? Are we really doing justice to rape and victims of rape and violence by going after the same people?” she asks.

Namises asks why the investigation was not carried out five years ago when the case was initially reported, and why other government leaders faced with the same allegations have not been investigated.

“We must be just and fair. Why has it taken the police over five years to investigate the minister regarding these allegations?” she asks.

‘WAIT FOR THE TRUTH’

Swanu of Namibia president Evilastus Kaaronda says no one knows the truth, and he would rather be guided by facts.

“People are presumed innocent until proven guilty. So I want to believe that this very presumptive position holds true to honourable Hengari,” he says.

Former member of parliament and former attorney general Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana yesterday cautioned against jumping to conclusions without facts.

“In the eyes of the public he is already being judged, but no one knows the truth – except him and the victim. So let’s wait until the truth comes out,” she said.

Iivula-Ithana believes Namibia’s laws will prevail, saying the public should allow the police to continue their investigation.

Former Women Action for Development executive director Veronica de Klerk agrees that even though Hengari is facing serious charges, he is still innocent until proven guilty.

“As strong as I feel about sexual violence against women, and as despicable it may be if leaders in high office engage in sexual violation against women, I do not think it is prudent for myself to share my perspectives if the minister has not yet been found guilty,” she says.

United People’s Movement president Jan van Wyk says the allegations are serious for a high-profile person such as Hengari, but warns that people should not be quick to find him guilty and allow the police to conclude their investigation.

“False allegations seem to always surface after a person assumes office like in this case.

“People are always out to get high-profile names, and such sensitive matters must be dealt with with caution,” he says.

Van Wyk is urging the public to remain vigilant and not simply believe anything they read.