Mayor Jacob Mafume steps in to address nurses' grievances

Harare Mayor, Jacob Mafume, has stepped in to prevent a potential strike by council nurses, who had threatened to down tools over a series of welfare issues, a commission of inquiry into council operations heard on Monday.

During the inquiry, evidence leader Tapiwa Godzi questioned Mafume about his involvement in collective bargaining meetings, a role typically handled by council management and union representatives. Mafume defended his participation, explaining that it was crucial to ensure that essential council services continued to function amid the nurses' grievances.

"We have 800 nurses, and if I am unable to persuade them not to go on a go-slow, we have cholera, diarrhoea, and the rains are coming. I have to participate to persuade them not to go on strike," Mafume said.

One of the primary issues raised by the nurses was dissatisfaction with the municipal medical aid scheme, which they claimed was not benefiting them. Mafume revealed that workers had been struggling to receive medical treatment, with some hospitals rejecting the medical aid scheme, and others allegedly abusing the system.

"The workers are not being paid, and their medical aid is being rejected at hospitals," Mafume said. "There are properties being bought, but the title deeds are not being handed over to the council. Money is being paid twice. My workers are not getting treatment."

Mafume explained that after hearing about the scheme's abuse, he attended Municipal Medical Aid Association meetings, where he uncovered alarming issues. "I did attend because US$1 million has been stolen," he revealed.

The Mayor went on to explain the broader financial challenges facing the City of Harare, noting that the council's salary bill stands at around US$2 million a month. "Currently, we are in a difficult operating environment. We employ close to 9,000 employees, and our salary bill goes to about US$2 million a month," Mafume said.

He highlighted the severity of the situation, warning that if labour relations deteriorated further, the city's operations could grind to a halt. "The moment we stop and are unable to have harmonious labour relations with the employees, the trade unions, then all the functions of the council will grind to a halt."

The City of Harare is currently grappling with various service delivery challenges, exacerbating the financial pressures on local government operations. The mayor's intervention highlights the urgent need for dialogue and resolution in order to avoid further disruptions in the provision of essential services to the city's residents.