Zimbabwe Sacks 77 Striking Doctors

The Zimbabwean government has dismissed 77 doctors that had been on strike since 3rd September over pay and working conditions, as the country wrestles with economic crisis.

Chairperson of the Health Service Board Paulinus Sikosana said the doctors were found guilty of absenteeism, a thus their dismissal was in line with Zimbabwean labour law.

He said last month a labour court ordered the doctors to return to work, but they refused, and so were charged in accordance with Section 4 of the Labour (National Employment Code of Conduct, Regulations, Statutory Instruments 15 of 2006 (the code).

Sikosana told the state-owned newspaper The Herald “77 of the 80 doctors were found guilty of absenting themselves from duty without leave or reasonable cause for days ranging from 5 or more and discharged from the health service”.

Hundreds of other striking doctors are still waiting to hear their fate, though many believe the government simply cannot afford to fire them as the health service is already under immense strain.

Hyperinflation has seen wages in real terms dramatically decrease across the country, with doctors being hit some of the hardest; the value of their wages has decreased by around $100 a month.

In yet more worrying signs for Mnangagwa’s government, members of the civil service are also set to go on strike this week over wages and working conditions.