Zimbabwe could face another nurses’ strike as health workers accuse the Government of failing to implement agreements on sector-specific allowances and a disputed job evaluation appeals process.
The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA), alongside the Health Apex Team and other health worker representatives, warned that prolonged delays in resolving the grievances could push nurses and other healthcare professionals to withdraw their services.
In a statement issued on Friday, ZINA said the Government and health worker representatives reached an agreement in May through the Health Bipartite Negotiating Forum to review health-specific allowances, with revised payments expected to potentially take effect from June.
However, nearly three months after health workers submitted their proposals, ZINA said there had been no substantive Government response or implementation.
The allowances, last reviewed in 2022, cover night duty, on-call and standby responsibilities, nurse managers, post-basic qualifications, mental health, special health duties and uniforms.
ZINA said rising living costs had significantly reduced the value of the allowances, leaving health workers inadequately compensated for demanding duties involving night shifts, emergencies and other unsocial working hours.
ZINA president and Health Apex Team leader, Enock Dongo, said frustration among health workers was mounting.
“Dialogue must produce results, promises must be honoured and agreements must be respected,” Dongo said, urging the Government to act quickly to prevent further deterioration in workers’ morale and healthcare delivery.
The dispute also centres on a recently completed health sector job evaluation conducted by the Health Services Commission.
ZINA rejected the outcome, arguing that workers were inadequately consulted and that the evaluation methodology failed to fully account for clinical responsibilities, professional accountability, emergency response, specialist qualifications, heavy workloads and unsocial working hours.
The association is particularly opposed to the reported handling of appeals through the Public Service Commission.
According to ZINA, the May agreement provided for an 8-member appeals committee comprising four Government representatives and four worker representatives to review complaints arising from the evaluation.
Dongo said health workers remained committed to dialogue but warned that unresolved grievances could trigger industrial action.
“Should the outstanding issues remain unresolved, health workers may be left with no option but to consider further collective action, including withdrawal of services,” he said.
ZINA is demanding immediate implementation of the revised allowances, a clear Government response to its proposals and establishment of the agreed appeals committee.
The association warned that continued delays could further weaken staff morale and put additional pressure on Zimbabwe’s already strained public health system.
