Things are going from bad to worse in Zimbabwe – with yesterday’s devastating strike by doctors at the country’s public hospitals being
the latest problem to confront President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s beleaguered government.
The strike has come on top of worsening foreign currency, fuel and medicines shortages in the country, as well as ever-rising prices of basic
goods — which is making life more miserable by the day for long-suffering citizens.
So dire is the fuel situation in urban areas in particular, that hordes of desperate workers and other travellers are being left stranded on road sides, while motorists are resorting to parking their cars “permanently” at empty garages —
hoping for chance deliveries of the now precious petrol and diesel.
At the same time, the Daily News learnt yesterday that the country’s major fuel companies are mulling selling their stocks in foreign currency in a bid to ensure some
modicum of product supply.
This has come as most shops have increased the prices of their goods, in response to the shortages of foreign currency, the recent rise in
the price of fuel and the worsening economic climate in the country.
And then comes the doctors’ strike, which saw most public hospitals yesterday being forced to turn away outpatients and to discharge those
who were deemed to be in stable condition. This prompted an irate middle-aged outpatient at Harare Central Hospital to describe the country’s current lot as a “total mess” when he spoke to the Daily News.
“I’m not well at all, but they have just told me that they are only attending to emergency cases, and I’ve no money to go to private clinics.
“We thought after Operation Restore Legacy (the military coup which toppled former president Robert Mugabe from power late last year) that things would improve in the country.
“But no, they are going from bad to worse — with no sign of getting better anytime soon. It’s a total
mess,” the former teacher who did not wish to be identified said.Daily News