‘Enough is enough’ says presidential advisor, as Zimbabwean hospital crisis rolls into Christmas

Political advisor Shingi Munyeza has urged Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa to adopt a sympathetic view to the country’s junior doctors, who have been on strike for a living wage since September. 

Taking to Twitter, Mr Munyeza implored the government to restaff Zimbabwe’s destitute hospitals.

“Let's reopen our hospitals - enough is enough! Pay the doctors a living wage and equip hospitals”, he posted. 

Zimbabwe’s junior doctors have been on strike since September after the government denied their request to be paid in US dollars or in local currency pegged to the interbank exchange rate. 

The stalemate has resulted in over 400 doctors losing their jobs. 

The desperation of the situation was made clear last month when Vice President Constantino Chiwenga was forced to seek medical assistance in China for four months, rather than receive treatment in his own country. 

Earlier this month, senior doctors took to the streets in protest against the poor management of national hospitals and to chastise senior officials for simply seeking healthcare abroad rather than remedying the situation at home. 

Photo credit: Forbes Africa