By A Correspondent- A Harare woman this morning gave birth to a baby boy at the gate of Mufakose poly clinic.

The development comes following the strike by council nurses which started today over poor salaries.

The woman, in her twenties, however said she did not know that council nurses are on strike and she arrived at Mufakose poly clinic around 6am while she was already in labour.

However, she found Mufakose poly clinic under lock and key but she could not make it to go back to her home in Cherima, an estimated 600 metres away from the poly clinic.

Residents from the area came to her rescue as they quickly mobilised the women in the area and covered her with cloths to ensure privacy before they summoned the elderly women in the community who then acted as midwives.

The woman gave birth to a baby boy before she was whisked away and taken to a nearby home together with her new baby.

Residents who gathered to witness the birth process were shooed away by the mbuya nyamukutas who assisted the young and panicking mother.

No- one from the clinic was available to even assist her as she gave birth outside Mufakose poly clinic premises.

Said one woman who was visibly disturbed by the development:

“Nurses who deal with pregnant women should always be at work because imagine if no one had volunteered to assist her, we could have lost two lives.

It does not make sense for government to blow US$5 million discussing a budget at some posh hotel in Victoria Falls and yet hospitals and clinics are not functioning because of resources. Our leaders clearly have misplaced priorities.”

Council nurses yesterday issued a strike notice citing incapacitation.

Below is the notice by council nurses: