Allexer Namundjembo
The former minister of agriculture, water and land reform, Mac-Albert Hengari, said the complaint in the rape case against him requested N$10 000 from him to pay a police officer to make the case disappear.
He said this on Monday during his formal bail hearing at the Windhoek Magistrates Court before magistrate Monica Andjaba on Wednesday.
“The complainant requested N$10 000 to apparently pay a policeman to make the case go away,” Hengari told the court.
Hengari said there was a meeting that took place at a law firm in Windhoek at the complainant’s request.
Present at the meeting was her friend, whom Hengari claimed also pushed for the alleged payment.
He said he refused to pay the N$10 000 but later handed them N$200.
“I went into my wallet and found the N$200 that I gave her. As soon as I gave her the money, less than a minute later, the police were knocking on my door,” he testified.
He denied allegations that he tried to bribe the complainant with N$222 000.
“There was no N$222 000 that I gave to the complainant. I had N$222 000 in my bag, but that money was for paying workers at my farm. The only amount the complainant requested from me was N$200. We are now wasting time and resources over N$200. There was no N$222 000 transaction between us,” Hengari told the court.
Hengari and his co-accused, the complainant’s older brother, were arrested on 26 March 2025 on charges of defeating or obstructing the course of justice. Both men have been in custody since, and Henagri is now seeking to be released on bail.
He told the court that before his arrest, he met the complainant at Arebbusch Lodge in Windhoek.
She was accompanied by a friend who works in the legal department at Old Mutual, while police officers waited in a car outside.
He said the complainant was reportedly staying in a safe house during the ongoing investigation.
“During that meeting, they handed me a settlement agreement document. We then proceeded to have dinner and socialise thereafter,” he said.
Hengari also testified that in the days leading up to his arrest, he and his co-accused agreed to approach lawyer Elia Shikongo to help draft a retraction and apology letter regarding the rape allegations, which had already been published in the media.
He asked the court to grant him bail, saying he is not a flight risk.
“I’m going to be 60 in October, and I have no intention of absconding and starting a new company. I want to slow down and focus on community development.”
Hengari also listed his business interests and community roles.
He said he is a trustee in Aquaculture Africa, a company valued at N$1.6 billion. He owns 100 shares in Capital and Sancom Investments, as well as in Anirep. He also owns a farm between Windhoek and Okahandja worth N$20 million.
“I’m also a trustee of the Tsumkwe Gam Investment with the late Kazenambo Kazenambo, where the community owns 24%,” Hengari added.
The bail hearing continues.
