HARARE – Anti-riot police on Wednesday barred dozens of striking doctors and nurses from conducting their daily routine march at Parirenyatwa Hospital in protest over poor wages and working conditions.
On Monday, doctors and nurses at the country’s biggest referral hospital downed their tools over government’s failure past 14 months to review their salaries in tandem with current inflationary trends.
Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association secretary Denford Masona said police did not give any reasons why they barred doctors and nurses from conducting their ritual march.
“We heard that we shouldn’t march, and we don’t know why they stopped us.
“The reasons why the police stopped us from marching are not clear; we have been non-violent, we are not political and we haven’t destroyed any property.
“So, I don’t see the logic behind stopping our routine march,” said Masona.
After police barred their march, doctors and nurses were camped outside the Mbuya Nehanda maternity ward where they continued with their peaceful protest.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the police barred the doctors and nurses in line with provisions of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA).
“Everyone who wants to demonstrate must comply with the law.
“We did not stop them from marching but we informed them to comply with the law as prescribed by MOPA,” he said.
Meanwhile, Masona said there were currently no formal negotiations between the government and the striking health staff regarding their grievances.
Patients seeking treatment were once again turned away as there were no health workers to attend to their needs.
