By Lake Zone Watch Writer
Veteran journalist, Mr Mugini Jacob Mwera has been elected to lead Mara Regional Press Club (MRPC) as the chairperson, for the second time.
Jacob (pictured), won the post during an MRPC general meeting held in the Lake Victoria town of Musoma yesterday.
He was declared the winner after bagging14 votes against his opponent, Mr Anthony Mayunga who garnered 10 votes. Mr Mayunga, also a veteran journalist in the region, who owns Serengeti Media Centre conceded defeat and congratulated Jacob for the victory.
In his brief speech to thank the delegates, Jacob said: “First, I would like to thank God for giving me another opportunity to serve you as your leader, this being the second time. It’s a golden chance for all of us to build a strong team of professional journalists. I promise you that mine will be an exemplary leadership,” said Jacob who currently owns several media outlets, including Sauti ya Mara, the leading local newspaper in the Lake Zone Region.
He also thanked those who gave him the vote and those who did not.
“ You are the winners . Challenges help us to strive for improvement. If you live without facing challenges or even being criticized, your existence and general conduct are questionable. However, I’d like to see constructive criticisms that will help us change and achieve better performance,” he pointed.
The new chairperson pledged to make MRPC the best performing and role model press club in Tanzania.
“My wish is to see MRPC being the shining light for its members and non-members in Mara Region, ” he said.
Founded 20 years ago, MRPC is a member of the Tanzania Union of Press Clubs(UTPC).
Mara Region is estimated to have more than 50 journalists,working for various local and national media outlets. However, the majority of them, still young in the profession, need extensive training and exposure in order to perform their duties professionally.
Jacob has worked for a number of national and international media outlets for over 18 years. He holds a degree in journalism and a diploma in public relations, having also attended several news reporting courses and media workshops in and outside the country.
In 2010, Jacob was the only Tanzanian speaker during the Global Media Forum held in Bonn, Germany, after attending a training on children story-telling at the Hague in the Netherlands .
In 2019 he attended a crucial water story telling media workshop held at IHE Delft in the Netherlands with other journalists from the Nile Basin countries.
Jacob also became a media trainer after successfully attending a mobile reporting training course, with the support of Tanzania Media Fund(TMF) and the Voices of Africa of the Netherlands.
He was selected by a Dutch media organization to train 10 Congolese women in the DRC some years back.
The Chairman of Mwanza Regional Press Club, Mr Edwin Soko has congratulated Jacob on being elected the new chairperson of MRPC, describing him as a visionary leader.
“Your victory has excited me. Regional press clubs need creative leaders and people with vision. Now we can think of having a joint venture between Mwanza and Mara press clubs,’’ said Mr Soko.
Meanwhile, President of the Tanzania Union of Press Clubs (UTPC), Mr Deogratius Nsokollo has congratulated the new Mara Regional Press Club Chairperson, Mugini Jacob Mwera, pledging full cooperation.
“Many congratulations to you Mugini for winning this position, which gives you a chance to serve your fellow journalists in Mara Region. I wish you all the best and we (UTPC) will provide every needed cooperation,” the UTPC President said in a brief congratulatory message to Jacob today.