Doctors and medical staff march to Zimbabwe’s Parliament on September 19, 2019 in Harare with a petition demanding the safe return of Peter Magombeyi, a doctors’ union leader who has been missing since September 14 at night, after he sent a WhatsApp message saying he had been “kidnapped by three men”, according to the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA). – Demonstrator believe he was taken because of his role in organising strikes to demand better pay and working conditions. Doctors are paid less than $200 (180 euros) per month in Zimbabwe, a country still struggling with hyperinflation and fuel and food shortages after decades of economic crisis under former president, who died a week ago. (Photo by Jekesai NJIKIZANA / AFP)
Striking Zimbabwe government junior doctors remained on strike on Monday despite a Labour Court ruling issued on Friday giving them 48 hours to return to work.
Doctors and medical staff march to Zimbabwe’s Parliament on September 19, 2019 in Harare. PHOTO: Jekesai NJIKIZANA / AFP.
The doctors went on strike on Sept. 3 demanding better working conditions and improved salaries.
Their direct employer, the Health Service Board, took the matter to the Labour Court which on Friday determined that the strike was illegal and that the doctors should return to work.
The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association on Sunday said that it had “noted with great dismay” the Labour Court ruling.
“While doctors would want nothing more than to return to work in service of their patients, they continue to be incapacitated and lack the resources to allow them to comply with the Labour Court judgment.
“An appeal will be lodged with the Supreme Court,” the association said, according to NAN report.
A source at the country’s largest medical referral centre, the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, on Monday said that the doctors had not reported for duty.
“They are saying that the court order does not capacitate them (to perform their duties) and have, therefore, appealed against the ruling at the Supreme Court,” the source said.
Disclaimer
Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.