Doctors and nurses woke up today, Thursday, to be told their long awaited bonus payments were not effected at all.
Contrary to government promises, the money which should have been paid in November last year and shifted several times and now to four months later, is not available.
At a time when junior doctors are paid less than $900 and nurses much less than that per month, the government has continued to purchase luxury vehicles and squandering millions of dollars in foreign travel while blowing hundreds of thousands for Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s lavish hotel daily expenses.
A letter released today by the Ministry of Health revealed the government is nowhere near to making the remuneration payments. A ministry letter reads: “As you might be aware bonus payments for Health Workers had been scheduled for today 31st March 2016. Please be advised that there has been a delay in the honouring of this commitment and we await details from the Treasury.”
A comment from the Finance Ministry could not be obtained at the time of writing. ZimEye.com is reliably informed the government does not have the money at all.