Hetta-Maria Amutenja
The Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (Manwu) has entered a transition phase as its general secretary, Justina Jonas, gradually steps back from daily operations to focus on her new role as a Member of Parliament.
Jonas, who was re-elected as Manwu’s secretary general during the union’s 10th national congress in Ongwediva in September last year, confirmed that, although she still supports the union’s internal operations, she is now primarily serving in Parliament under the SWAPO party list.
“You cannot just leave, because there are things that need to be put in place. So we started preparing last year already. I’m still trying to assist the leadership. My visibility in the union will still be there for a long time,” she told the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday.
Jonas added that her transition has been carefully managed to ensure continuity in leadership and union representation.
“They are just arrangements. Because I think the principal issue is that I’m a deployee of the workers. I’ve been serving the workers throughout my life for 22 years. That’s the only thing I know, and that’s the mandate given to me when I came to this House to make sure that the voice of workers, which we have been missing for a long, long time, is back in parliament,” said Jonas.
While she declined to elaborate further on her new role beyond her official remarks in Parliament, Jonas made it clear that her legislative focus will be on labour issues and worker advocacy.
“You will hear me talking more about the workers, because the voice has been missing for a long time, and that’s the voice I was mandated to bring back.”
In her maiden speech in parliament last week during the budget debate, Jonas reiterated her commitment to advocating for workers, drawing attention to the historical labour struggles of Namibians under colonial rule.
“Under colonial rule, Namibian workers, especially Black workers, were denied basic human rights. There was no legal recognition of labour rights, no freedom of association, no access to fair hearings upon dismissal, and no rights to collective bargaining or skills development. Today, thanks to the SWAPO-led government, Namibian workers enjoy legal protections that continue to evolve in pursuit of fairness and equity,” she said.
She also used the platform to defend the SWAPO Party’s governance approach.
“The Namibian people have once again renewed their trust in the SWAPO party because our manifesto speaks directly to their lived realities and dreams. The manifesto is not a document of promises; it is a vehicle for service delivery,” said Jonas.
Angula Angula, deputy secretary general of the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (Manwu), has confirmed that the union is in a transitional phase following the appointment of Justina Jonas to the National Assembly.
Although Jonas remains the official secretary general of Manwu, Angula is currently acting in that role.
“I am the one running the administration of the union,” he said.
According to Angula, there is no legal requirement preventing Jonas from remaining in her Manwu position while serving in Parliament, as long as she is not a government employee.
“There is no pressure on her to resign. The branches are not demanding it,” Angula said.
He added that Jonas has not been receiving a salary from Manwu since taking up her new role.
“We made sure that she is not receiving two salaries.”
He noted that Jonas has already handed over responsibilities to him, though not formally in writing.
“The handover was done through all the regions, and it’s a gradual process.”
