The Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN), through its investment arm the Namibia Miners Investment Trust (NAMIT) in partnership with the Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI) hosted its graduation ceremony in Windhoek with 173 students attaining their Labour Law Certificates.
MUN and NAMIT continue to invest in the empowerment and upskilling of its members through this graduation platform designed to strengthen members of the MUN in understanding labor matters. The programme equips participants with essential knowledge on labour legislation, dispute resolution, negotiation skills, and effective workplace representation. This initiative forms part of MUN’s long-term strategy to capacitate its members and ensure they are well-prepared to advocate for workers’ rights within their respective workplaces.
President of the Mineworkers Union of Namibia, Poco-Key Mberiuana applauded all graduates that have managed to complete the course. “We are very proud of what the MUN is doing alongside the support of LaRRi that have shown throughout these years. Your determination has shown that completing this online course is possible. You are promoted and you will be held accountable in our working place. Today I am proud to say that we have members in the region that are empowered and to take over leadership roles to empower themselves. These qualifications must be put in action and should not be buried elsewhere. You are empowered now and educated to know your rights in the work place. You need to plough back at your branch and empower your peers where you will return to at your branch level and national level,” he said. 2 Mrs. Aune Mudjanima Deputy Executive Director made a few remarks on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations. “It is a blueprint to progress and accredited by the Namibia Qualifications Authority, level 4. You have managed to balance family and studies in a field that requires extra ordinary discipline. You have been empowered to do collective bargaining of workers’ rights. You are now the frontline advocate of safety and equity. This is where your studies are not a luxury but a necessity. An educated worker is a stronger negotiator who ensures agreements are fair. They are a pillar of our economy built on justice. More so an empowered employee can build a legacy of informed leadership engaging in civilized dialogue. Let’s not see this as an expense but as a cornerstone of this mission. This program is the only and first of its kind in Namibia in the labor market so continue to lift and lead others on your journey,” she noted. Keynote speaker Professor Stephen Akoth noted that dignity is not for sale. He shared his years of experience in the teaching profession, lessons learnt and a reminder of workers rights and to always standby despite harsh environments. Andreas Akuunda Multi Skilled Operator Namdeb who was one of the graduates expressed his gratitude.
“The course was very helpful so that we can overcome some situations between management and employees. The only challenge was time management with work and studies however I managed to navigate,” he said. Helga Scheffers another graduate added, “Here I am today, it was 20 years back since school and I must admit that this course was very educational. You can represent someone at the workplace and to empower yourself,” she said. 3 Petukeni Nikanor Sheefeni – Boiler Maker at Namdeb for 14 years shared his experience. “I familiarized myself with labour issues so that dispute between management and employees are mitigated in an amicable way. I was fortunate to balance studies with my work. It was really interesting and I learnt a lot. These classes were online which assisted us in terms of flexibility. I recommend this to others as this enlightens employees about their rights and advising them how to tackle difficult situations. Many don’t know their rights and get taken advantage of,” he added. The 2025 cohort marks the 4th intake of the programme by the MUN, which commenced in February 2025 with 216 registered students. The programme consisted of eight structured modules covering English for Academic Purposes, Basic Computer Skills, Trade Union History and Theory, Namibia’s Political Economy, Trade Union Organisation and Management, Affirmative Action and Gender, Labour Law and Collective Bargaining, and Globalisation. Out of this group, 173 students successfully completed their coursework and MUN LaRRI and Namit continue to empower the future leaders.