The Namibia Media Professionals Union elected its new leadership following a general meeting held in Windhoek on Friday.
The newly elected officials are Shelleygan Petersen who was elected president, Gordon Joseph as vice president, Jemima Beukes who retained her position as secretary general and Charmaine Ngatjiheue who was elected to serve as deputy secretary general.
The union elected Otto Gotlieb as secretary for mobilisation, Wilma Geingos as national treasurer and Ernst Calitz and Eveline de Klerk as additional executive committee members.
They are replacing Tileni Mongudhi, who was president, Sakeus Iikela, the founding secretary general, treasurer Timo Shihepo, Augetto Graig who served as the organiser and Edward Mumbuu who was part of the executive committee.
Speaking to The Namibian on Friday, Petersen said she is prepared to fight for and protect journalists’ rights during her tenure.
“The next years are going to involve a lot of hard work. Journalists have been neglected and mistreated for far too long, and they deserve to be protected and uplifted. Labour laws are not negotiable and need to be adhered to, and no media house is exempt from the law.
“We will fight for media professionals and their rights, and we will bring change to the industry,” she said.
Outgoing union organiser Graig says they established the union to fight for all people working in the media.
“Many people rely on us to be their voice when the system makes them voiceless. Many people rely on us to share their stories when the system silences them. That is why we established this union, to fight for all the people working in the media,” he says.
Graig encourages the new leadership to continue the fight for justice.
