By Own Correspondent| Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has been given the mandate to guide and oversee engagement efforts between government and striking junior doctors following an impasse which has seen the two sides pulling in different directions over the junior doctors’ demands.
This was revealed by the Information and Publicity minister Monica Mutsvangwa at a press conference in Harare today (Wednesday).
Said Mutsvangwa:
“Following presentation by the Minister of Health and Child Care of an update on the junior doctors strike, Cabinet while noting the ongoing efforts to resolve the matter, agreed that henceforth, the engagement process be under the guidance of Vice President Constantino Guvheya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga.”
VP Chiwenga, 8 months ago fired all striking public hospital nurses with immediate effect and ordered the prompt recruitment of unemployed graduates to replace them.
The drastic action was confirmed by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
Nurses had gone on strike to press the government to pay them allowances and to protest a flawed system for grading salaries.
Chiwenga said the nurses had continued with the crimpling job action despite the government releasing funds to pay their allowances in line with an earlier deal brokered between the two parties earlier in the week.
Said the Vice President:
“What makes the whole action both deplorable and reprehensible is the fact that, as agreed, Government today released and transferred a sum of $17 114 446 into the account of the Ministry of Health and Child Care for on-payment to the striking nurses.
Government now regards this lack of remorse as politically motivated, and thus as going beyond concerns of conditions of service and worker welfare.”
VP Chiwenga continued:
“Accordingly, Government has decided, in the interest of patients and of saving lives, to discharge all the striking nurses with immediate effect.
Further, Government has now instructed the Health Services Board to speedily engage, as appropriate, all unemployed but trained nurses in the country.
It has also authorized the Board to recall retired nursing staff into the service.”