Doctors' Strike Forces Minister To Shorten UN Trip

Health Minister, Dr Obadiah Moyo has claimed that he had to cut short his United Nations trip because of the doctors’ strike over salaries and working conditions.

Moyo said that he returned on the 25th of September immediately after attending the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Universal Health Coverage meetings. Moyo said:

After the meetings I immediately came back to deal with the industrial action by the health workers.

I held several meetings with the Health Services Board, Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube and the Minister of Local Government and Public Works July Moyo on the water challenges facing the country.

Meanwhile, the rest of the delegation is expected to arrive later today.

Doctors have for some weeks not been reporting for work saying that they are now incapacitated as their salaries have been eroded by the soaring inflation.

Their industrial action intensified last week following the disappearance of the acting president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, Peter Magombeyi.

Magombeyi went missing on the 14th of September amid allegations that he had been abducted by suspected government agents. He was found dumped five days later in Nyabira, about 35 kilometres outside Harare.

Despite his return, doctors vowed that they would not return to work until their grievances have been addressed.

More: The Herald