According to the police, Mac-Albert Hengari was taken into custody on Saturday after reportedly trying to buy off the victim, who is now 21 years old, to drop the charges against him.
Hengari, 59, was denied bail when he appeared in court on Monday. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Since taking office last month, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia's first female president, has had her first significant scandal.
The president's office statement stated that Hengari had also been fired from the National Assembly, but it did not specify the reasons for the dismissal.
The president nominated Hengari to represent the ruling Swapo party in parliament.
According to authorities, he is being investigated on a number of case-related offenses, including assault, rape, and kidnapping.
He was accused of hindering the administration of justice when he appeared in a Windhoek magistrates' court on Monday.
According to authorities, he is being investigated on a number of case-related offenses, including assault, rape, and kidnapping.
He was accused of hindering the administration of justice when he appeared in a Windhoek magistrates' court on Monday.
Until the next hearing is set for June 3rd, he and his co-accused will stay in detention. Because they might try to contact witnesses and pose a flight risk, they were not granted bail.
Hengari's arrest "on charges of rape, kidnapping, and forced abortion" was criticized by the opposition Independent Patriots for Change as a "profound failure of leadership and exposes the hollowness of government rhetoric on gender-based violence."
The case was alleged to have occurred in the midst of "widespread gender violence," as 4,814 incidences of gender-violence were registered in the previous year. There are three million people living in the nation.
The president appointed Hengari "despite a criminal investigation having allegedly been opened in November 2024," the party said, criticizing the vetting process as well.
Hengari's arrest "on charges of rape, kidnapping, and forced abortion" was criticized by the opposition Independent Patriots for Change as a "profound failure of leadership and exposes the hollowness of government rhetoric on gender-based violence."
The case was alleged to have occurred in the midst of "widespread gender violence," as 4,814 incidences of gender-violence were registered in the previous year. There are three million people living in the nation.
The president appointed Hengari "despite a criminal investigation having allegedly been opened in November 2024," the party said, criticizing the vetting process as well.
With nine of the 14 members, including the vice president, being female, President Nandi-Ndaitwah's cabinet was hailed as groundbreaking for female representation when it was announced last month.
With 58% of the vote, the 72-year-old won the election in November.
She has been a longtime member of Swapo, which has held sway since the nation's independence in 1990 following a protracted fight against South Africa's apartheid regime.
With 58% of the vote, the 72-year-old won the election in November.
She has been a longtime member of Swapo, which has held sway since the nation's independence in 1990 following a protracted fight against South Africa's apartheid regime.