Paul Nyathi|Leader of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Associating, Dr Peter Magombeyi has responded to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s assertion that striking doctors are being unreasonable by refusing to accept a 60% salary increase offer from government.

In a Twitter message from South Africa where he is currently recovering after receiving hospital attention for torture and possibly poisoning after being abducted by suspected state security operatives, Dr Magombeyi reminded doctors’ employers that 60% of nothing will still give back nothing.

He reiterated the doctors’ stance that they will not be intimidated to resolve the impasse with government.

Mnangagwa said the striking doctors were working with external forces to destabilise the health sector.

“Two months ago, we raised their salaries and they came back again saying the value of the money had been eroded and we offered them a 30 percent increase which they rejected and we increased it to 60 percent which they rejected again,” he said.

“After going through what is happening, we have discovered that there are a few individuals who are getting outside influence and then coming to influence others to continue with the strike. But what we are saying to the doctors is that you are Zimbabweans and the sick people are also Zimbabweans.