The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) has threatened a nationwide industrial action tomorrow citing the government’s failure to adjust their members’ salaries to the foreign exchange interbank rates.
The association last month gave the government, three weeks’ notice to adjust their salaries arguing that the civil servants body – Apex Council negotiations had not yielded any fruit.
Amongst their grievances to the employer, doctors said the cost of living had continuously increased while their salaries had only been reviewed by less than 10 percent.
They also said the RTGS$400 meagre cushion allowances could not buy them much in terms of the basic food basket.
In an interview with CITE, ZHDA Secretary General, Dr Mthabisi Anele Bhebhe, said the government’s response to their pleas was a “slap” in their face.
“The employer did actually reply but the response was actually a slap in our faces as the response to our employees was unsatisfactory,” said Dr Bhebhe.
“They only gave us 60 percent which excludes medical benefits.”
He added that due to unsatisfactory response doctors would tomorrow embark on a strike.
“Our employees are prepared to take action tomorrow as they will go on a strike,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a statement, ZHDA Provincial representative’s spokesperson Dr Peter Magombeyi, said doctors will not report on duty until salaries were adjusted.
“This letter serves as a notice that starting on September 3, this year, doctors at Mpilo, Bulawayo United, Parirenyatwa Group, Harare and Chitungwiza Central Hospitals are not going to report for work,” said Dr Magombeyi.
“We simple
do not have the means to continue coming to work because the salary is not
sufficient.”
