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Zimbabwe govt convenes urgent talks to resolve nurses' strike
9 hrs ago |
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The Government has convened an extraordinary meeting between the Health Apex Panel and the Health Services Commission in a bid to resolve the ongoing nurses' strike that has disrupted services at public hospitals across Zimbabwe.
Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora said the high-level engagement is intended to urgently address grievances raised by health workers and restore normal operations in affected institutions.
"An extraordinary technical meeting has been convened between the Health Apex Panel and the Health Services Commission," he said, adding that Government remains committed to structured dialogue.
The industrial action has led to widespread disruptions in public health facilities, with nurses citing low salaries, poor working conditions, inadequate staffing levels and shortages of essential medical supplies.
The strike has been led by the Zimbabwe Nurses Association, which has repeatedly warned that working conditions in the sector have deteriorated significantly.
Dr Mombeshora said the talks will provide a formal platform to address the concerns while ensuring that essential health services are not permanently compromised.
"The Ministry appeals to health workers who have withdrawn their services to suspend the industrial action and allow space for constructive dialogue," he said.
Government has in recent years introduced a mix of monetary and non-monetary incentives aimed at retaining health workers, including duty-free vehicle imports, housing stands and other benefits.
It has also begun implementing revised remuneration structures for civil servants as part of broader economic stabilisation efforts linked to the strengthening of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency.
Despite these measures, tensions between health workers and Government remain high, with nurses insisting that recent salary adjustments do not adequately reflect the cost of living.
The outcome of the emergency talks is expected to determine whether normal hospital services can resume fully in the coming days.
Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora said the high-level engagement is intended to urgently address grievances raised by health workers and restore normal operations in affected institutions.
"An extraordinary technical meeting has been convened between the Health Apex Panel and the Health Services Commission," he said, adding that Government remains committed to structured dialogue.
The industrial action has led to widespread disruptions in public health facilities, with nurses citing low salaries, poor working conditions, inadequate staffing levels and shortages of essential medical supplies.
The strike has been led by the Zimbabwe Nurses Association, which has repeatedly warned that working conditions in the sector have deteriorated significantly.
"The Ministry appeals to health workers who have withdrawn their services to suspend the industrial action and allow space for constructive dialogue," he said.
Government has in recent years introduced a mix of monetary and non-monetary incentives aimed at retaining health workers, including duty-free vehicle imports, housing stands and other benefits.
It has also begun implementing revised remuneration structures for civil servants as part of broader economic stabilisation efforts linked to the strengthening of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency.
Despite these measures, tensions between health workers and Government remain high, with nurses insisting that recent salary adjustments do not adequately reflect the cost of living.
The outcome of the emergency talks is expected to determine whether normal hospital services can resume fully in the coming days.
Source - The Herald
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