Deputy Health and Child Care Minister Sleiman Kwidini has said that government officials laughed when nurses went on strike last month.
Nurses staged a three-day strike from Monday, 20 April, over low pay and poor working conditions.
They said they felt misled after promises of better salaries did not materialise in April. Many reported that their take-home pay was not enough to cover basic living costs, with some claiming that, after deductions, they earned far less than expected.
The nurses, whose salaries reportedly range from less than US$300 to US$500 a month, are demanding between US$600 and US$800.
But speaking at International Nurses Day commemorations in Harare, Kwidini told an audience of nurses, hospital executives, students and government officials at The Avenues Clinic that only God can reward a nurse adequately.
“We were laughing the other day, discussing the industrial action by public health institution nurses,” Kwidini said.
“We asked ourselves if there is anyone in this world with the capacity to adequately pay a nurse. A nurse can not be paid by anyone, and only God can reward a nurse.”
Kwidini also advised against the expectation that the government would “break the bank” to meet nurses’ demands.
“Even if, as nurses, you demand any amount of money, it can never be enough,” he said. “It doesn’t make sense to break the bank for nurses, yet we do not have enough money; that would be a lie, but your welfare will be gradually improved.”
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