Zim without doctors in strikes fallout
Zimbabweans woke up to an unprecedented Christmas Day after the government suspended 550 striking doctors‚ while those who remained at work withdrew their services.
The bulk of those suspended are junior doctors‚ who make up the majority of doctors in the country – understood to be less than 1,000 in total.
According to a statement by the country’s Health Services Board (HSB)‚ the doctors have effectively been blocked from going to hospitals or performing any work-related duties for the next two weeks.
The suspension was aided by a high court ruling which on Saturday declared the strike illegal.
“The findings of the court‚ in terms of Section 107 of the Labour Act‚ are as follows: Having listened to both parties’ submissions‚ the court found that the collective job action embarked on by the respondents (Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association) and its members on December 1 2018 is unlawful‚” the ruling read.
After two weeks the government will decide whether to keep the doctors or not. However‚ the few remaining doctors on call have also gone on strike in solidarity with those suspended by the government.
“Following the suspension of some of our colleagues‚ we as Masvingo [province] Government Medical Officers hereby notify our employer‚ HSB‚ ministry of health and child care‚ we are withdrawing our services with immediate effect‚” they said in a statement.
Doctors in other provinces then sent the same notification. A Harare-based doctor who spoke on condition of anonymity said the situation was bad for the country.
“Think about the seriously ill; there’s no medication and no doctor to attend [to them].
“It’s only the nurses‚ and they will soon down tools with the rest of the civil service.
“Government should simply address our grievances as its workers. Doctors and nurses are classified as critical skills people in some countries and getting jobs out there is not that hard‚ and if government clearly doesn’t care‚ we will leave‚” he said.
Only expatriate doctors from countries such as Cuba are at work.
Last week, the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe met President Emmerson Mnangagwa‚ demanding a 600% salary hike or to be paid in US dollars. If the government failed to meet that‚ the union promised a strike in the first week of January.
A failing economy has robbed ordinary Zimbabweans of a merry Christmas, where tradition in most households is pomp and fanfare.
Local soft drink manufacturer Delta Beverages – which bottles Coca Cola‚ Fanta and Sprite – shut down its factories because of foreign currency shortages.
“The shortage of forex is well articulated‚ and is beyond the control of the company‚” corporate affairs executive Patricia Murambinda said.
“We are unfortunately heading for a dry festive period. We can only apologise to our valued customers and consumers.”
Mnangagwa admitted it would be a gloomy Christmas for many, but said in a statement: “I encourage all of us to be patient‚ resilient and to work harder in collective unity‚ as we create a better‚ democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe for all.”