Nurses dispute turns ugly

THE overtime dispute between the Namibia Nurses Union and the Ministry of Health is turning nasty, with allegations of tribalism, political influence and even death threats being levelled.

On Friday, Nanu Secretary General Abner Shopati opened a criminal case after a senior nurse at the Katutura Hospital was seen distributing a letter defending the Health Permanent Secretary, Dr Kalumbi Shangula. In the letter allegations were made that Shopati was part of a group of Kwanyamas in Swapo who wanted Shangula out because he was part of the so-called Omusati clique in the party.”No wonder the Nanu nurses from Engela State Hospital are strongly calling for his (Shangula’s) removal,” the letter stated.Shopati got hold of the letter, which he gave to the Police to investigate its origin.According to staff at Katutura Hospital, the nurse who distributed the letter – who is a shop steward of the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) – claimed she got it from the Ministry’s head office to distribute there.”The case of Sam [Nujoma], the Omusati clique and Hidipo [Hamutenya], the Kwanyama clique, has nothing to do with you nurses.Do not let yourselves be used,” the letter said.The letter claimed that some nurses even planned to kill Health Minister Dr Richard Kamwi or his members of his family.”In Nanu, members are from different political parties and they are around you when you are gossiping.They are turning back when they realise that you are busy with dirty Swapo campaigns.Be warned,” the letter said.It also alleged that Shopati was using the nurses to campaign for a Swapo ticket into Parliament when the next party congress is held.Shopati said he was shocked that a “pure labour issue” had been turned into such a dirty political campaign.”I have laid a charge and hope that the Police will come to the root of all the evil in that letter.Whoever did that cannot be left unchallenged,” he said.Last week, Shangula said the Ministry had received information that the nurses’ protest had a “political undertone”.The National Union of Namibian Workers’ President Alpheus Muheua subsequently described Shopati as a “loose cannon”.In the letter allegations were made that Shopati was part of a group of Kwanyamas in Swapo who wanted Shangula out because he was part of the so-called Omusati clique in the party.”No wonder the Nanu nurses from Engela State Hospital are strongly calling for his (Shangula’s) removal,” the letter stated.Shopati got hold of the letter, which he gave to the Police to investigate its origin.According to staff at Katutura Hospital, the nurse who distributed the letter – who is a shop steward of the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) – claimed she got it from the Ministry’s head office to distribute there.”The case of Sam [Nujoma], the Omusati clique and Hidipo [Hamutenya], the Kwanyama clique, has nothing to do with you nurses.Do not let yourselves be used,” the letter said.The letter claimed that some nurses even planned to kill Health Minister Dr Richard Kamwi or his members of his family.”In Nanu, members are from different political parties and they are around you when you are gossiping.They are turning back when they realise that you are busy with dirty Swapo campaigns.Be warned,” the letter said.It also alleged that Shopati was using the nurses to campaign for a Swapo ticket into Parliament when the next party congress is held.Shopati said he was shocked that a “pure labour issue” had been turned into such a dirty political campaign.”I have laid a charge and hope that the Police will come to the root of all the evil in that letter.Whoever did that cannot be left unchallenged,” he said.Last week, Shangula said the Ministry had received information that the nurses’ protest had a “political undertone”.The National Union of Namibian Workers’ President Alpheus Muheua subsequently described Shopati as a “loose cannon”.