Authorities mum on alleged relocation of Hengari complainant

Authorities have declined to confirm reports that the complainant in the criminal investigation involving former agriculture minister Mac Hengari has been relocated outside Namibia under a witness protection arrangement while the investigation continues.

Police have confirmed they are investigating allegations made by the complainant that Hengari had a sexual relationship with her from the time she was 16 years old, that he forced her to terminate one pregnancy and that he fathered a child with her during the alleged relationship.

Hengari has repeatedly denied the allegations. He has neither been arrested nor formally charged in connection with the complaint, which the woman filed in November 2024.

DNA samples were collected in 2025 from both Hengari and the complainant, aged 21 at the time, to determine paternity of the child.

A source close to the matter told Namibian Sun this week that the complainant and her child were relocated outside Namibia because of alleged concerns for her safety while police investigations continue.

According to the source, the reported relocation forms part of a protection arrangement under which the complainant's whereabouts are kept confidential, and she would return to Namibia only when required to testify in court.

Another source familiar with witness protection procedures told Namibian Sun that relocation outside the country is considered only in exceptional circumstances where authorities believe a witness faces a serious threat and local protection measures are insufficient.

"If there is imminent risk or danger, they are taken to a safe country. They then come through for court proceedings, but no one has details of their whereabouts. People will just see the witness in court," the source said.

The source added that such arrangements are undertaken in cooperation with the receiving country, which agrees to protect the witness.

The alleged relocation had not been officially confirmed by authorities by the time of publication.

No confirmation

The justice ministry's chief public relations officer, Edmund //Khoaseb, had not responded to questions regarding the reported relocation by the time of publication.

In a response to questions from Namibian Sun, the Office of the Prosecutor General yesterday said: “Matters relating to witness protection are dealt with in terms of the Witness Protection Act 11 of 2017.”

The office said the Act “establishes the Witness Protection Unit headed by a director. That unit is the one that deals with issues as well as applications relating to joining the witness protection programme. Entering into that programme is based on voluntary applications made by those who are seeking admission into the programme."

When contacted for comment, Namibian Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi said the police were not involved in the matter.

Shikwambi referred all questions relating to the reported relocation to the justice ministry.

She added that Hengari was arrested on charges of bribery and defeating or obstructing the course of justice and that no charges relating to the alleged relationship with the complainant have been brought against him.

The investigation into the complainant's allegations remains ongoing, and no decision has been announced on whether any charges will be brought against the former minister.

The bribery charges arose after authorities alleged that the former minister offered the complainant N$220 000 to withdraw her criminal complaint.

Hengari has also denied these charges.

DNA evidence

Meanwhile, a dispute over the DNA results appears to be moving towards resolution after the justice ministry rejected allegations by Hengari's legal team that the State had failed to comply with a court order requiring disclosure of the complete police docket.

//Khoaseb said the State had complied with the court order and that the disclosed docket includes the DNA results requested by the defence.

"The State rejects the allegation that it has failed to comply with the court order relating to docket disclosure. Full docket disclosure has been provided to the defence in accordance with the applicable legal processes," he said.

//Khoaseb added that the disclosed docket includes the DNA results but declined to provide the documents to the media, saying material forming part of the court record and disclosed docket cannot be released separately by the ministry.

Senior associate Mekumbu Tjiteere of WKH Incorporated, who represents Hengari, confirmed to Namibian Sun that the defence has since received communication that the disclosed docket is available.

He said payment for copies of the docket was made on Monday.

However, Tjiteere said the defence has not yet had an opportunity to examine the documents and is therefore unable to confirm whether the DNA results form part of the disclosure.

"If the DNA results are not part of the disclosed documents, we will return to court to seek an order compelling the State to make them available," he said.