Striking doctors and nurses have allegedly been receiving
threats from anonymous people, trying to force them to return to work.
Health workers, including nurses, downed tools three months
ago demanding salaries in United States dollars and the provision of personal
protective equipment (PPE) to avoid coronavirus infection.
They were joined by senior doctors a month ago and the
government has so far failed to convince them to return to work.
“Some of our colleagues received phones calls from shadowy
characters, who threatened them,” said a nurse from one of Harare’s major
public hospitals.
“Many are scared and because it has been too long, most
will turn up for work.”
A senior doctor said the government was now using
unorthodox means to try and force them to return to work.
“It is unfortunate that our employer, instead of addressing
our issues is now resorting to threats,” said the Harare-based doctor, who
requested to remain anonymous.
“We are always in debt, always behind in rentals.
“Why did we waste all those years studying medicine? We should be looking after our parents, but instead they
continue to feed us.”
When junior doctors embarked on a four-month-long strike
last year, one of their leaders Peter Magombeyi was allegedly abducted by
unknown people.
Magombeyi was severely tortured during his ordeal, but the
government denied that state security agents were involved.
Zimbabwe Nurses Association president Enoch Dongo could not
comment on the alleged threats against striking nurses, saying he was still
gathering details.
Nyasha Nyaguse, the president of the Senior Hospital
Doctors’ Association, said she could “neither confirm nor deny” the
allegations.
Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, who is also the Health
and Care minister, is yet to meet the striking health workers over a month
after he was appointed.
Critics say the government has not shown any seriousness in
resolving the multi-faceted crisis facing the health sector at a time the
country is battling the Covid-19 pandemic. Standard
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