Doctors sue government over salaries

News
JUNIOR doctors yesterday resolved to file an urgent High Court application today, challenging the “injustice and insanity” of the Health ministry’s decision to deduct their salaries as punishment for embarking on a strike action in October and November.

JUNIOR doctors yesterday resolved to file an urgent High Court application today, challenging the “injustice and insanity” of the Health ministry’s decision to deduct their salaries as punishment for embarking on a strike action in October and November.

NQOBANI NDLOVU STAFF REPORTER

The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) met their lawyers after receiving notification that their employer would deduct nearly $600 from each doctor who participated in the strike action.

“This evil move is intended to be implemented against the backdrop of doctors earning around $283 as basic salary and some meagre allowances,” Francis Rwodzi, the ZHDA publicity officer said in a press release yesterday.

“The ZHDA will relentlessly fight this injustice and insanity, as it falls short of the existing legal statutes that govern the relationship between employees and their employers.”

Junior doctors went on strike demanding $1 200 salaries, excluding allowances, from the $283 they presently earn.

The government promised to increase their salaries next year, but did not say by how much.

Rwodzi said the decision by the government to deduct pay from the doctors was illegal under the country’s labour laws and the new Constitution and indicated that the ‘ZHDA and its members “will never be intimidated”.

“The ZHDA, through its lawyer Emmanuel Samundombe, will challenge the illegal salary deductions as they have been done outside the confines of the law, have not been done procedurally as per the requirements of our current labour laws and are also an infringement of the right to industrial action as stipulated in sections 65 and 76 of the new Constitution of Zimbabwe,” he said.

“The application will immediately seek to bar the paymaster from effecting the intended salary deductions before the next revised salary date.”

“The ZHDA maintains its position that it will not fall into the trap being set by (Health deputy minister) Paul Chimedza and his inner cabal meant to anger, incite and frustrate young doctors, who are currently playing a pivotal role in the provision of healthcare to all government hospitals in Zimbabwe, into a rebellious lot who daily strike against government ineffectiveness and mediocre decision-making.”