High Court judge Justice Amy Tsanga is tomorrow expected to
preside over an urgent chamber application filed by members of the Zimbabwe
Nurses’ Association (Zina), who are seeking nullification of their summary
dismissal by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga following an industrial action
last week.
On Friday last week, Zina approached the court for
recourse, arguing that Chiwenga had no authority to terminate their employment
contracts.
The nurses, who are represented by Kantor and Immerman,
cited the Health Services Board, Health minister David Parirenyatwa and
Chiwenga as respondents.
Zina secretary-general Enock Dongo filed his founding
affidavit giving a chronology of events which led to their expulsion by the
Vice-President.
“On April 17, 2018, we met with the respondents (Health
Services Board, Health and Child Care minister Parirenyatwa, and Chiwenga) at
the third respondent’s (Chiwenga) offices. Instead of engaging us, the third
respondent threatened the leadership of the first applicant (Zina) with
violence and ejected the first applicant’s president and secretary-general from
the meeting,” he said.
“. . . In terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the
applicants have the right to be heard prior to an administrative decision
affecting them being made,” Dongo said, adding “. . . the third respondent is
not the applicant’s employer. He is not party to the employment relationship
between the applicants and the first respondent. He does not have the power at
law to hire or fire nurses.”
According to Dongo, prior to their “purported dismissal”, Zina
had raised their grievances with the HSB, following which a meeting with the
Vice President was organised with a view to resolve the issues, among them poor
working conditions.
“We lack the essential tools of trade and we are exposed to
diseases,” he said.
Meanwhile, the situation has returned to normalcy at most
public hospitals, including Parirenyatwa Group, Harare Central and Chitungwiza
Central hospitals after nurses resumed duties on Saturday. Newsday
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