THE Secretary General of the Namibia Nurses Union (Nanu), Abner Shopati, says he is receiving death threats.
Shopati told The Namibian yesterday that he had received several calls on his cellphone from people saying his “days are numbered” unless he stopped his actions against the Ministry of Health. As the leader of Nanu, Shopati recently organised a demonstration of nurses who are unhappy with their payment for work done on Sundays and public holidays.”They (callers) are claiming that I am anti-Government and that I have a politician behind me.They say I want the Government to be seen in a bad manner and that my days are numbered,” Shopati said.He, however, vowed to continue fighting for what he believes the nurses deserve.”All I can say is that, if I am no more, nurses should prepare themselves to continue the struggle,” Shopati said.He said he had been unable to identify the callers.The Nanu leader said some of the callers defended Health Permanent Secretary Dr Kalumbi Shangula by stating that he was competent and efficient.On Wednesday, Shangula said the Ministry had received information that the nurses’ protest had a “political undertone” but denied any intimidation of nurses.”Who informed him that? Is it fair to address nurses who are asking for their fair share on political issues?” Shopati responded.He challenged anyone with information about Nanu’s links to politicians to reveal that.Yesterday, the President of the National Union of Namibian Workers, Alpheus Muheua, described Shopati as a “loose cannon”.He admitted that the Nanu leader was previously under the mentorship of Labour Deputy Minister Petrus Iilonga, when he was a union leader, but charged that Shopati had lost the plot after allegedly listening to the advice of disgruntled politicians.”Now he is misleading the nurses.It is all attempts to destabilise the NUNW and Swapo,” Muheua claimed.Shopati was a shop steward with the Namibia Public Workers’ Union (Napwu) but said he left the union because it failed the nurses.He said he would lay criminal charges against those who have threatened to kill him.The Police have a way to trace the numbers, he said.As the leader of Nanu, Shopati recently organised a demonstration of nurses who are unhappy with their payment for work done on Sundays and public holidays.”They (callers) are claiming that I am anti-Government and that I have a politician behind me.They say I want the Government to be seen in a bad manner and that my days are numbered,” Shopati said.He, however, vowed to continue fighting for what he believes the nurses deserve.”All I can say is that, if I am no more, nurses should prepare themselves to continue the struggle,” Shopati said.He said he had been unable to identify the callers.The Nanu leader said some of the callers defended Health Permanent Secretary Dr Kalumbi Shangula by stating that he was competent and efficient.On Wednesday, Shangula said the Ministry had received information that the nurses’ protest had a “political undertone” but denied any intimidation of nurses.”Who informed him that? Is it fair to address nurses who are asking for their fair share on political issues?” Shopati responded.He challenged anyone with information about Nanu’s links to politicians to reveal that.Yesterday, the President of the National Union of Namibian Workers, Alpheus Muheua, described Shopati as a “loose cannon”.He admitted that the Nanu leader was previously under the mentorship of Labour Deputy Minister Petrus Iilonga, when he was a union leader, but charged that Shopati had lost the plot after allegedly listening to the advice of disgruntled politicians.”Now he is misleading the nurses.It is all attempts to destabilise the NUNW and Swapo,” Muheua claimed.Shopati was a shop steward with the Namibia Public Workers’ Union (Napwu) but said he left the union because it failed the nurses.He said he would lay criminal charges against those who have threatened to kill him.The Police have a way to trace the numbers, he said.
