Zim striking doctors’ hearings continue

HEARINGS for striking Zimbabwean doctors are continuing today.

So far 77 doctors have already been fired after they were found guilty of defying a labour court ruling to return work.

Health services board chairperson, Dr Paulinus Sikhosana could not immediately give the exact number of doctors whose cases will be heard today.

The hearings continue a day after the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) spokesperson Dr Tapiwa Mungofa said doctors remain open for dialogue with Government.

“We as the ZHDA, we remain open for dialogue and we have our patients at heart,” Mungofa told a meeting of doctors at Parirenyatwa Hospital, Zimbabwe’s biggest referral hospital, yesterday.

“Ordinary citizens are suffering, the most vulnerable, the children and the elderly, the pregnant women are suffering and this (firing of the 77 doctors) is what they have decided to do in order to solve the situation? We are still shocked, again we remain shocked.

“Doctors are not unreasonable, doctors are reasonable, but we have not received any communication from the employer so far in trying to negotiate with us, instead we are the ones who have been pushing for negotiations, but again we are in this situation.”