Mineworkers Union of Namibia

The Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) is one of the most powerful of Namibia's trade unions. It plays a leading public role in the Namibian political space and is an ally of the ruling South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) government.^[1] The MUN was established in 1986. It is affiliated with the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) national trade union center and had about 8,000 members in 2017^[update].^[2]: 23

M.U.N.

Mineworkers' Union of Namibia
Founded	1986
Location	Namibia
Affiliations	National Union of Namibian Workers South West Africa People's Organization

Strikes

The MUN supported the 2008 Skorpion Zinc Strike, accusing Skorpion Zinc of practising racial discrimination and of negotiating in bad faith.^[3]

Criticisms

MUN has been accused of "dishonesty and neglect over unfulfilled promises to beneficiaries" in connection with a company it owns, Namibia Miners Investment Trust (Namit), established to support union members.^[4] When in 2025 government pushed for a majority stake in all new mining operations, MUN was criticised for defending this policy.^[5]

Notable members

• John Shaetonhodi, union president 1986–1995, later deputy labour minister^[6]
• Bernhardt Esau, secretary general of NUNW, a national trade union center, later fisheries minister^[7]
• Asser Kuveri Kapere, president from 1987-1991
• Peter Naholo, secretary general from 1993-2001
• Ben Ulenga, founder of MUN^[8]