Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), a union for junior and middle-level doctors has said that doctors will continue with the industrial action despite threats from the government.
Speaking to the Daily News on Friday 18 October, the association said:
ZHDA members remain incapacitated and threatening doctors will not solve this crisis. It actually exacerbates the situation.
We remain open for negotiations with a neutral, well-recognised mediator with the employer on a separate platform and are willing to go back to work once an assuring and sustainable solution is found on fair and faithful grounds.
The remarks come after President Emmerson Mnangagwa issued a chilling warning to striking doctors saying that they will later regret their decisions.
He said that doctors must return to work and negotiate for their salaries whilst assisting patients who are reportedly dying in public hospitals as no one is attending to them.
Meanwhile, the Health Services Board yesterday issued a statement suggesting that the doctors and government had agreed to a 100% salary increment, a development which the ZHDA said it was not aware of since it pulled out of the Health Apex Council.
More: Daily News
They will always be left with egg on their face with their monkey games and lies that an agreement has been reached with the doctors. They may play publicity stunts with the citizens but that wont burry the problem. We need a solution, and fast
Kuvhundusa vanhu🥶😱😈👹
Only rulers will threaten and intimidate key and critical skilled people who are important to the well being of a country.
I long to have a leader not a ruler.
I long to be lead and not ruled.
The masses will surely be incapacitated to render their support to Zanu in the coming elections. People should learn and never allow themselves to be used by Zanu.
Its hard to believe we have leaders who worry about themselves only charter a plane to Bulawayo and fail to give doctors reasonable wage to get to work.Spend large sums of money on chiefs cars at expense of masses. Buy party cars and claim donations,if they are genuine let them donate cars to doctors and food to hospitals.