Zim government to act on striking doctors

STRIKING Zimbabwean Doctors who defied the 48 hour ultimatum by the Labour Court to return to work face disciplinary action following expiration of the order.

Zimbabwe’s Labour Court declared the doctors’ job action illegal.

Speaking after touring Harare Central Hospital on Wednesday, Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Obadiah Moyo said since the doctors defied a court order, the provision for arbitration falls away.

“l have been advised by the Attorney-General (Prince Machaya) that because some doctors could not meet the deadline, that order falls away,”

He added, “l have said we are going to follow the law to the last detail, professionally. What the law says is what we will follow.”

Dr Moyo, said since the issuance of the ultimatum, few doctors returned to work and the numbers keep fluctuating.

The Health Minister visited Harare Central Hospital to assess the state of affairs following the protracted strike and the few doctors who heeded the call to return to work were only attending to critical cases.  Nurses were however performing their duties.