The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) has vowed to continue with salary strike. Expectations were that they would return to work when their acting president, Peter Magombeyi had been found.
Magombeyi had gone missing since Saturday 14 September in Budiriro. His disappearance caused mayhem as nurses and doctors downed tools demanding his safe return.
He was found disoriented in Nyabira, near Inkomo Army Barracks, about 35 kilometres north-west of Harare where his purported abductors reportedly dumped him.
The ZHDA who have since the 3rd of September not been reporting for duty said that his return does not change their position on salaries. The association said:
At this time we must stick together in solidarity and press on in action. We, therefore, continue to say no money, no work.
The doctors who are demanding a 400% salary, indexed to the U.S. dollar, rejected the government’s salary offers, which would see the lowest-paid worker earning ZW$1,023.
Using today’s official rate, 14.43, the lowest-paid worker would be earning US$70.90 per month. The salary would be around US$50 if today’s parallel market rate, 20.5, is used.
The protests come when commodities of basic prices have been going up at a vast speed for the past 24 months.
More: Nehanda Radio