Maria Hengari

“Albert Hengari, former Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, has struck back with vengeance, suing the young woman who accused him of rape, and several others for reputational harm, demanding a total of N$10.2 million in damages.”

“He, however, contends that he only met the alleged rape victim in late 2021 and therefore could not have (nor did) he pay any alleged bribe to hide "crimes".”

“Maria Hengari, an administrative worker from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), accused of fraud, was granted bail of N$10 000.00 in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court, with conditions that she does not interfere with state witnesses or police investigations.”

“Hengari faces charges of fraud after she allegedly received payments from NUST students to pay off debts, but used these funds in a manner that resulted in the university suffering losses of N$2.6 million.”

“Hengari is accused of defrauding Nust and its bursar during the period from 2021 to 2024 by receiving payments totalling about N$2.64 million from 130 students and not paying the money to the university.”

“It is also alleged that Hengari cleared students' debts they owed to Nust on the university's record system after money had been handed to her or paid into her bank account.”

“Maria Hengari (41) was arrested on suspicion of causing Nust to lose over N$2 million by clearing student debts under false pretences, as the funds reportedly never reached the institution.”

“Hengari was charged with two counts including fraud and acquisition, possession or use of proceeds of unlawful activities in contravention of section 6 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.”

“Hengari and his 30-year-old co-accused were arrested on 26 April 2025 after allegedly attempting to offer a bribe of N$220,000 to a 21-year-old woman who had accused Hengari of raping her in 2019, when she was still a minor.”

“"From the acting chief executive officer (CEO) to all those who have run down the institution, they have turned into a cash cow with no sense of responsibility whatsoever," she said.”