Sam Nujoma, Namibia's First President, Dies at 95

Namibia's Agriculture Minister, Mac-Albert Hengari, has been dismissed following accusations of raping a 16-year-old girl five years ago. Hengari, 59, was arrested on Saturday after allegedly attempting to bribe the victim, now 21, to withdraw her complaint, according to police reports. He appeared in a Windhoek court on Monday, facing charges of obstructing justice and was denied bail due to concerns he might flee or contact witnesses. This incident marks a significant controversy for Namibia's new president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who assumed office last month and has made a commitment to female representation in government. The president's office did not provide specific reasons for Hengari's dismissal from both his ministerial position and the National Assembly. The opposition party, Independent Patriots for Change, criticized the government’s handling of the situation, citing it as indicative of a failure in leadership concerning gender-based violence, an issue that is particularly pressing in the country, which reported 4,814 gender violence cases last year. Hengari is now under investigation for multiple serious charges, including kidnapping and rape.

Sam Nujoma, Namibia's first president and a key figure in the nation’s struggle for independence, has died at the age of 95. His passing was confirmed by current President Nangolo Mbumba, who announced that Nujoma died on Saturday night after being hospitalized in Windhoek. Nujoma, who led Namibia to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990, served as president for 15 years. He is celebrated in Namibia as a charismatic father of the nation, credited with steering the country toward democracy and stability following a prolonged colonial rule and a brutal independence struggle. King Charles expressed his sorrow at Nujoma's death, noting that “his lifelong commitment to freedom and democracy” was “truly inspirational.” Throughout his leadership, Nujoma facilitated national healing by reconciling deeply divided communities resulting from apartheid policies. Despite facing criticism for authoritarian tendencies, his establishment of a democratic constitution and inclusive government earned him respect even from political adversaries. However, his anti-Western sentiments, including controversial views on AIDS and LGBTQ+ rights, often attracted international scrutiny.

Sam Nujoma, the first president of independent Namibia and a key figure in the country's liberation movement, has passed away at the age of 95 in Windhoek, according to Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba. Nujoma, who played a major role in Namibia's struggle for independence from South Africa, co-founded the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) in 1960 and served as the country’s president from 1990 until 2005. President Mbumba announced Nujoma's death with “utmost sorrow and sadness,” revealing that the former leader had been hospitalized for three weeks due to an illness he could not recover from. He praised Nujoma, stating he "inspired us to rise to our feet and to become masters of this vast land of our ancestors." After retiring from the presidency, Nujoma remained influential in Namibian politics, leading SWAPO until 2007 after nearly five decades at its helm. Nujoma's legacy as a revolutionary leader has had a lasting impact on Namibia, and his contributions to the nation's independence will be remembered.