News / Local
Harare council tries to silence personnel
28 May 2016 at 06:46hrs | Views
Harare Residents Trust has claimed that in a clear case of trying to silence health personnel, the City Health Department suspended 64 nurses with full pay and benefits for allegedly visiting the offices of the City Health Department to ask about their outstanding salaries, now reaching six months.
The trust said its investigations into the welfare of city employees following revelations that they are not being paid has revealed that the Director of Health Services Dr Prosper Chonzi wrote suspension letters to the plus 20 nurses with effect from 3 May 2016 'in terms of clause 11.3 (a) of Statutory Instrument 13 of 2015.
As justification for the suspension of the nurses, Dr Chonzi said: "The suspension was meant to facilitate investigations and possible disciplinary action following serious allegations of unlawful job action as defined by Statutory Instrument 13 of 2015. It is alleged that the nurses deserted their work stations and gathered with fellow workers at Rowan Martin Building on 27 April 2016."
The Trust said in an unexplained turn around, the suspension of the nurses was lifted and they were supposed to report for duty on 24 May 2016.
The HRT denounced all actions meant to intimidate the workers, whose genuine concerns are being ignored by senior council management, and there is now fear among health personnel that Dr Chonzi is taking the matters personally trying to punish the nurses for merely enquiring about their outstanding salaries.
Dr Chonzi has not yet responded to questions given to him to explain and justify his actions.
The HRT said it is keen to know what the Harare Municipal Workers Union is doing to protect City Workers who are experiencing these problems in their workplace?
The trust said its investigations into the welfare of city employees following revelations that they are not being paid has revealed that the Director of Health Services Dr Prosper Chonzi wrote suspension letters to the plus 20 nurses with effect from 3 May 2016 'in terms of clause 11.3 (a) of Statutory Instrument 13 of 2015.
As justification for the suspension of the nurses, Dr Chonzi said: "The suspension was meant to facilitate investigations and possible disciplinary action following serious allegations of unlawful job action as defined by Statutory Instrument 13 of 2015. It is alleged that the nurses deserted their work stations and gathered with fellow workers at Rowan Martin Building on 27 April 2016."
The HRT denounced all actions meant to intimidate the workers, whose genuine concerns are being ignored by senior council management, and there is now fear among health personnel that Dr Chonzi is taking the matters personally trying to punish the nurses for merely enquiring about their outstanding salaries.
Dr Chonzi has not yet responded to questions given to him to explain and justify his actions.
The HRT said it is keen to know what the Harare Municipal Workers Union is doing to protect City Workers who are experiencing these problems in their workplace?
Source - Byo24News
