ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday promised nurses wanting to strike this coming Monday, he will increase their salaries in less than 10 days’ time.
This was revealed in a circular by the nurses’ leadership. The notice reads in full-
Re: PROPOSED INDUSTRIAL ACTION
We refer to the above subject and would want to bring the following to your attention.
I. On Friday the 21st 2019, the Executive Committee received communication from the office of the Minister of Health & Child Care.
2. In particular, the Executive was being invited to a meeting at the State House to discuss the plight of the nursing profession. The meeting was duly set down for 1130am.
3. The Executive attended at the State House for the meeting. In attendance was the President His Excellency Comrade E.D Mnangagwa, the Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube, the Minister of Health Honourable Dr Obadiah Moyo, the Acting Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Monica Mutsvangwa, the Chairperson of Health Service Board Dr Sikhosana and Officials from the Public Service Commission. The meeting had been called at the instance of President Mnagangwa.
4. During the meeting, the Executive was given the opportunity to present the grievances of the nursing profession. Of the grievances discussed, the one which was dealt with at great length was the issue relating to remuneration wherein the Executive reiterated that due to incapacity the nurses would not be attending work from the 24th ofJune 2019 unless salaries were increased.
5. The President and all those in attendance understood the position of the nurses and gave an undertaking that salaries were going to be reviewed. More specifically, the undertaking was that salaries were going to be reviewed upwards from the 1st ofJuly 2019.
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6. Following from the undertaking given above there was an acceptance by the President and the aforementioned principals that the undertakings given would not be effected by the 24th of June 2019. As a result, a request was made that nurses withhold their intention to embark on a full scale industrial action from the 24th of June 2019.
7. The above request having been made, it has been decided that we exercise patience and reciprocate the gesture of good faith made in the meeting so as to give our principals the opportunity to implement the undertaking they have made.
8. To that end, we hereby advise that from the 24th of June 2019, nurses must continue to attend work at the current arrangement i.e attending work for two days per week.
9. We anticipate formal confirmation and subsequent implementation of the undertaking given. Should this not be done, we will proceed to completely withdraw labour from the expiry of ten (10) days.
10. We trust the above is in order.