Zimbabwe: end of the nurses’ strike
Thousands of nurses dismissed by the Zimbabwean government for striking went out of their way to begin negotiations with the authorities.
About 15,000 nurses were on strike last Monday in public hospitals to get better pay and working conditions.
They also protested against under-equipment and lack of medicine.
On Tuesday, Zimbabwean Vice President Constantino Chiwenga announced their dismissal, accusing them of being “politically motivated”.
The Zimbabwe Nurses Association said that it had taken note of Mr. Chiwenga’s decision, while pointing out that its members were still on strike.
“To prepare the reopening of negotiations and ensure the protection of workers, we decided to stop our social movement,” wrote its officials in a statement.
The Zimbabwe Nurses Association has called on its members to resume work from Monday.
The nurses’ strike was a test of the desire of the country’s new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, to reform the health system.
