By Own Correspondent| Patients here have been left stranded following the doctors’ strike which has crippled the health system since December 1 last year.

Doctors at government hospitals recently vowed to continue with the strike which is now in its sixth week.

State media reports on Monday claimed that some doctors at several hospitals across the country had agreed to go back to work after a deal had been struck with the government on Saturday.

However, the doctors later revealed that no such deal had been struck between the striking doctors and their employer.

Relatives of patients who spoke to ZimEye at Chitungwiza General Hospital said doctors were not attending to their loved ones and there was no point in being admitted at the institution.

Said Linda Manyere whose sister is nursing injuries from an accident:

“She is in pain but the doctors are not here. It is our prayer that the doctors and government reach an agreement because we are watching our relative dying a slow and painful death because no one is helping her.”

Government has however remained adamant that it cannot afford to pay civil servants in forex arguing that “it does not print foreign currency”.