By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s Labour Court has reserved judgement in a matter where government through the Health ministry approached the courts seeking a determination regarding industrial action by local doctors who are demanding higher salaries and improved conditions of service.

The ministry of health last week issued an ultimatum to striking doctors to return to work or face disciplinary action before taking the matter to the Labour court seeking an order to declare the strike either legal or illegal in terms of the local labour laws.

A lawyer representing the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA), Doug Coltart however is on record claiming that contrary to government’s arguments seeking to declare the doctors’ strike as either legal or illegal, the doctors’ industrial action was a result of incapacitation hence could not be deemed not a strike.

Said Coltart:

“Doctors are saying we are not on strike and we are not unwilling to go to work but we are unable because we are incapacitated. That evidence was not laid before the court by the minister.

……With respect, once you make that concession that indeed doctors are incapacitated that’s the end of the matter. It’s not a strike, the doctors are simply unable to go to work.”

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