The Zimbabwean government has caused potential chaos in hospitals countrywide after it chopped off doctors salaries by $300.
In an unprecedented move that exposes the Zimbabwe government`s double standards, doctors woke up to the the unimaginable after the public service docked almost $300 from their December salaries effectively ruining their festive season.
The paymaster garnished the doctors dues for allegedly participating in a constitutional 17 day strike where they demanded improved working conditions. The move to deduct from the doctors salaries came as a huge surprise after the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) had reached a painful compromise with the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Health Services Board to get the doctors back to work while negotiations continue.
ZHDA is shocked at the move as it becomes the first time ever in the history of the country that workers can be punished for exercising their constitutional right. As ZHDA we feel that this move is a direct violation of labour rights and total disregard of the country’s constitution and sabotage of social services delivery in the country.
The action also comes hard on the heels of President Mugabe’s call for accelerated implementation of ZIMASSET. The ZHDA is currently engaging with it’s membership to determine the way forward but all the association’s chapters have said that this is a declaration of war with doctors. ZHDA is also waiting patiently for the courts to rule on this unjust punishment to doctors as we have since launched a urgent High Court application to reverse the decision. The ZHDA therefore urges President Mugabe as he cleans up government of incompetent staff to consider looking at ineffective institutions like the Health Services Board and officials in the Ministry of Health and Child Care because they have proved that they are not only incompetent but inept.

-Report By Francis Rwodzi