The Zimbabwe Republic Police on Friday arrested nurses and general workers at Victoria Chitepo in Mutare for a protest over paltry salaries.
The development comes after health caregivers across the country have embarked on an industrial action to register displeasure over the government’s proposed 50 percent salary increment.
The protest started at Parirenyatwa Hospital and has since spread to other public health institutions with reports suggesting that the majority of health workers did not show up for work at Parirenyatwa and Sally Mugabe
Hospitals in the capital on Friday.
The arrests were confirmed by an anonymous administrator at Victoria Chitepo Hospital and other nurses while speaking to the NewDay. The administrator said:
Yes, our nurses and some general staff were arrested for taking part in the strike. They were detained at Mutare Central Police Station. They were released without charge after the hospital’s management negotiated for their release.
The report was also confirmed by a nurse at the hospital who expressed disbelief in the development saying all health caregivers nationwide had embarked on industrial action.
The protests come when the country is still grappling with the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed 4 lives in the country.
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