Chitungwiza Municipality nurses have downed tools citing lack of remuneration and personal protective equipment to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic as well as poor working conditions.

St Mary’s clinic doors were closed at the main entrance with a poster inscribed “Feel for the health worker.”

The poster inscribed at the closed door read, “No PPE-no work, no covid allowances-no work, no lockdown allowances-no work, no food-no work, no pay-no work, no training on covid-no work, no covid consumables-no work,” reads the post.

The clinic’s staff were seated outside and turning away patients.

Some the patients were still hopeful that operations would resume as at least 50 were seated at the gate in anticipation that the situation will improve.

Acting Health Director Hebert Chirowodza said he was yet to get details of the strike.

A disgruntled nurse said that they would not go back to work until they were paid their allowances and salary arrears.

“Government and other health institutions are paying their workers COVID-19 allowances, but we are not receiving anything and you expect us to report for duty?” she said.

“The council owes us in salary arrears.

“We have been waiting but no action is being taken. How do they expect us to feed our families?” she added.

“For the past seven months, we have not been getting transport allowances but they expect us to report for work.

“Where would I find the money for bus fare?” she said.