Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) are remaining firm on their position on an industrial action over wage agreements despite the government’s plans to fire the health practitioners.
ZINA, which urged nurses to remain calm after the government decided to discharge the striking nurses stated that the industrial action goes on.
“The position as already submitted to government on behalf of ZINA’s suffering nurses remains the same.” said ZINA in a letter.
“As a result, we advise all nurses that nothing has changed thus far with regards to the industrial action which is going on.”
Zimbabwe’s government had earlier on responded to the industrial action by transferring a sum of US$17 114 446 into the Ministry of Health and Child Care for on-payment to the striking nurses according to the press release by the Vice President of the country, Constantino Chiwenga.
“While this demonstrated good faith on the part of the government, the prompt transfers which have been effected against demonstrable economic challenges facing our nation has not, quite surprisingly, persuaded the striking nurses to go back to their workstations in the interest of saving lives and helping hapless patients placed under care,” Chiwenga said in the press release.
“Government now regards this lack of remorse as politically motivated, and thus as going beyond concerns of conditions of services and worker welfare. Accordingly, government has decided, in the interest of saving lives, to discharge all the striking nurses with immediate effect.”
“Further, government now instructed the Health Services Board to speedily engage, as appropriate, all unemployed but trained nurses in the country. It has also authorized the board to recall retired nursing staff into the service,” Chiwenga went on.
Nurses started the strike on Monday over poor working conditions and remuneration with the government blaming the economic conditions for the grievances in the health workers.
Health sector has already witnessed the doctors also on strike this year despite cholera outbreak threats the country is facing.
