The government yesterday cancelled a meeting with unions
representing health workers following Health minister Obadiah Moyo’s arrest on
corruption charges.
Moyo, who was arrested on Friday, was freed on bail after
he appeared at the Harare magistrates court yesterday charged with criminal
abuse of office.
The charges are linked to a $60 million medical equipment
supply deals given to a company known as Drax International, which is fronted
by a controversial businessman Delish Nguwaya, who allegedly has links with
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s children.
The cancelled meeting was aimed at persuading the health
workers, who went on strike last Thursday demanding salaries in foreign
currency, to return to work.
Checks at the country’s major hospitals that include Mpilo
Central, United Bulawayo Hospitals and Parirenyatwa Hospital, showed that the
majority of nurses did not report for work yesterday, leaving patients stranded.
At some of the hospitals seriously ill patients were being
discharged prematurely due to the shortage of nurses.
At provincial hospitals in Marondera, Masvingo, Mutare,
Kwekwe and Gweru, more nurses had joined the strike yesterday.
Robert Chiduku, the Zimbabwe Professional Nurses Union
president, said government had requested a meeting with the unions, which was
cancelled because of Moyo’s unavailability.
“The government had called for the meeting,” Chiduku said. “They
wanted to see us.
“Today (yesterday) we had more health workers joining the
strike except for a few, who are either related to bosses or were corruptly
employed, reporting for work.
“But generally in the whole country the majority of the
health workers are on strike.”
Chiduku said the health workers would only go back to work
when their demands for salaries pegged in United States dollars and improved
working conditions are met.
Meanwhile, nurses at the Victoria Chitepo Hospital in
Mutare said they were still traumatised by their arrest last week after they
protested against poor working conditions.
On Friday, most of the nurses and general staff at the
hospital were arrested for joining the nationwide strike by health workers.
They were taken to Mutare Central Police Station where they
were detained before being released without charge.
“I am still traumatised because l was arrested,” said one
nurse. “I thought we were doing what other nurses where doing in other parts of
the country, but we were arrested.
“We are now traumatised and we fear going to work because
we might be arrested again.” Other nurses vowed to continue with the strike
until their grievances are addressed.
Health workers went on strike a day after the government
increased salaries of civil servants by 50% and introduced a US$75 temporary
monthly allowance.
The government, however, says the money will not be paid
out in cash. Standard
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