From the frontlines to Erongo's new executive director

When Leandrea Mouers arrived at the scene of the Twaloloka informal settlement fire in Walvis Bay in July 2020, more than 100 homes had already been engulfed by flames.

As residents scrambled to save what little they could and emergency services battled the blaze, Mouers documented the unfolding tragedy.

Her reporting and photography would later appear on the front pages of all three of Namibia Media Holdings' daily newspapers – a career milestone for the journalist who had entered the industry less than a decade earlier.

Five years later, Mouers, at 31, has been appointed executive director of Erongo at Network Media Hub (NMH), where she will lead the coastal multimedia platform through a strategic transformation while keeping community-focused journalism at its core.

It all began long before her first byline.

A self-confessed bookworm, Mouers developed a love for reading and writing at a young age. While attending De Duine Secondary School in Walvis Bay, she served as editor of the school's newspaper, an experience that confirmed her ambition to become a journalist.

"The ink wasn't even dry on my final exam paper when I started as an intern at Namib Times in October 2012," she recalled.

Within months, she had secured her first front-page story.

Mouers' career has since evolved from junior journalist and photographer at Namib Times to schools journalist at My Zone in 2015, news presenter at Erongo, journalist and multimedia content creator and now executive director.

"I have never liked being boxed into one role," she said. "Every experience built on the previous one and helped shape me into the media professional I am today."

Over the years, her work earned multiple accolades, including Video of the Year in 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021, and Erongo Story of the Year awards in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Rising from the ashes

However, her reporting on the Twaloloka fire remains her most memorable assignment.

Covering the disaster during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mouers witnessed residents lose their homes, possessions and, in one tragic case, a young child.

The assignment became even more dangerous when unrest broke out later that evening and clashes erupted between residents and law enforcement officers.

"I suddenly found myself between local residents and the Special Reserve Force," Mouers told Careers.

"I took cover behind a wall and went live on Facebook. Many people called it brave reporting afterwards, but at the time my instinct was simply that people needed to know what was happening."

Mouers admitted "it was also one of the most difficult years of my life".

Covid-19 was devastating communities, and Walvis Bay, where she lived and worked, had become the epicentre, facing repeated lockdowns.

"It was also the year I was diagnosed with depression. Looking back now, it was a year that tested many people in different ways," she said.

Despite her professional success, the demands of the industry eventually took a toll.

In 2023, while balancing a demanding career while raising her young family, Mouers briefly stepped away from journalism due to burnout.

"At the time, my second-born was still a baby and I was breastfeeding full-time while returning to work. Balancing motherhood and full-time work, particularly from home, became extremely challenging."

But the struggle was not without lessons.

"The biggest lesson was learning that it is okay to set boundaries, to know your limits. You cannot pour from an empty cup. I have since stopped chasing the idea of perfect balance because life and work constantly overlap and change."

Before returning to the industry in 2024, Mouers was uncertain whether journalism was the right call.

The rewards of the craft

The decision to re-enter the newsroom was not one she made lightly.

"I was very hesitant at first. I spent a lot of time praying about it. Eventually, I came back with the conviction that I had been placed here for a reason."

Now a mother of three daughters, she says her greatest motivation is setting an example for her children, along with the realisation that every opportunity given carries a responsibility to make a meaningful difference where she can.

As executive director of Erongo, Mouers plans to position the platform as the leading voice at Namibia's coast.

"Our slogan is 'Our community, Uour news', and the community must remain at the heart of everything we do," she said.

For aspiring journalists, her advice is simple: remain curious, keep learning and embrace change.

"Journalism is one of the most underappreciated professions. People are often quick to criticise journalists, but they are also the first to call when difficult questions need to be asked. At the same time, it is one of the most rewarding careers there is. Be curious, stay willing to learn new skills, and always remember why you started. The industry changes quickly, so adaptability is essential, but make sure you also enjoy the journey."