The Nurse Educators Association of Zimbabwe (NEAZ) has declared its solidarity with the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) over the government’s failure to implement health-specific allowances agreed under the Health Bipartite Negotiating Forum in May 2026.
In a statement issued on 15 August 2026, NEAZ said its members are witnessing first-hand the impact of the ongoing morale crisis within the health sector.
“Our members teach in class and clinical areas, mentor students and qualified nursing staff in wards, and continue to provide service alongside other health workers. The same challenges affecting service delivery nurses, doctors, pharmacists, etc directly affect nurse educators,” the statement reads.
NEAZ said it stands in full solidarity with ZINA and the Health Apex Team on three key grounds: health-specific allowances, the job evaluation process, and dialogue and implementation.
On health-specific allowances, NEAZ said allowances for night duty, on-call, standby, nurse managers, post-basic qualifications, mental health, special health duties and uniforms have not been reviewed since 2022.
The association said the erosion of their value has made it increasingly difficult for both practising nurses and nurse educators to sustain themselves while carrying out demanding and often unsociable hours of work.
“We call on government to urgently review and implement the revised rates as agreed in May 2026,” NEAZ said.
On the job evaluation process, NEAZ said it shares ZINA’s concern that the health sector job evaluation failed to adequately recognise the unique demands of healthcare, including clinical responsibility, emergency response, specialist qualifications and workload.
The association further rejected any unilateral change to the agreed 4-4 appeals committee mechanism.
“The process must be transparent, inclusive, and led within the health sector as originally agreed,” it said.
NEAZ said while it remains committed to dialogue, dialogue without implementation erodes trust.
“Nurse educators, like all health workers, continue to work five days a week, carry work – planning and examination markings – home on weekends and public holidays, while also carrying family and financial responsibilities. Fair compensation is not a privilege. It is recognition of the essential service we provide to the nation,” the statement said.
NEAZ demanded the immediate review and implementation of health-specific allowances, a clear and time-bound response from the Ministry of Finance, the immediate constitution of the agreed 4-4 appeals committee for the job evaluation, and a transparent and inclusive appeals process that remains within the health sector.
The association urged the government to act with urgency in the interests of health workers and, most importantly, the people of Zimbabwe who depend on a functional health system.
“We remain open to constructive engagement but will not stand by while agreements are ignored,” NEAZ said.
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