Harare – Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s government has
threatened to fire striking doctors demanding better salaries and working
conditions, as the industrial action spread and entered its second day on Thursday.
Information obtained by News24 showed that the government through
the ministry of health and child welfare was compiling names of doctors who heeded
the call to down tools.
Clinical Director at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Noah
Madziva dispatched a memo charging that anyone who withdrew their services
would be removed from duty register and pay roll.
"The operations directorate will do a roll call at 09:00
every morning and anyone not available at that time will be deemed as not
available for service and subject to the above mentioned arrangements (removal
from duty rooster and pay)," said Madziva.
But union leaders shrugged off the dismal threats, urging its
members to remain focused and take inspiration from the success of
day one.
"We have noted with utter disappointment the new
tactics by various Clinical Directors at central hospital, that instead of
engaging doctors and trying to find solutions to our current demands, they have
reverted to threats and victimisation," the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors
Association said in a statement.
"We inform all our members that a document circulating
with threats, is the same document that was used to intimidate people just a
few years ago. It is just an 'Archive' which represent one of the many tricks
used by authorities to test our strength, unity and courage .
Threatening is a sign of fear. A last ditch attempt at
resolving a problem without engaging. We will not waiver," it added.
Union representatives were late on Thursday afternoon still
locked in a meeting with ministry officials in an attempt to break the impasse.
