Death Threats For Gutu Hospital Nurses| By Terrence Mawawa, Gutu|State security agents on Monday visited Gutu Mission Hospital and threatened to abduct and assault nurses if they embark on a strike against poor working conditions.
Panic stricken nurses at the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe(RCZ) run district hospital yesterday told ZimEye.com three men and “a lady” visited the health centre, moved around the premises and ordered nurses and hospital staff to continue with their duties or risk being abducted.
Morale is generally low at most hospitals since medical personnel are unhappy with the paltry salaries they are getting.
“Three big men and a lady in a short skirt came here and identified themselves as officers from the office of the president.
“They said they had a task to monitor activities in the hospitals and they moved around the nurses’ home and the school of nursing where they said everyone must report for duty. They further threatened to abduct those who dare to participate in the strike.
“They also said nurses who participate in the strike would be ruthlessly dealt with and we are in a state of panic. They said everyone is under surveillance so it is really frightening because they also warned us not to blame anyone if dire consequences befall us ,” said a nurse based at the giant mission hospital.
Medical personnel are pressing for better working conditions and a female nurse working at the Children’s ward said: “everyone is disgruntled and this is the reason why health standards have been compromised. This government must immediately resolve the matter because morale is low here.”