By Dalphine Tagwireyi
Some of the 16,000 Zimbabwean nurses who were fired in 2018 for protesting against a R1,800 salary have scoffed at the Zimbabwe government’s attempt to rehire them on the same wages.
On Friday, Health Services Board (HSB) in the country made a call for health professionals who were fired in 2018, including those discharged with criminal offences, to reapply for the jobs.
The board has given them until 31 March 2023 to submit their applications for the job, for which they are being offered the exact same wages of R1,800 per month.
In an interview with Scrolla.Africa, 42-year-old Nomsa Ngwenya, who has temporarily stopped working as a nurse, says the call made by the health ministry is laughable.
Ngwenya now works as a helper in South Africa.
The nurses’ dismissal four years ago was ordered by Zimbabwe’s health minister, Constantino Chiwenga, who is also the country’s vice-president.
Ngwenya says she finds it funny that the government wants the nurses back at work.
“It doesn’t make any sense. I am not willing to go back to Zimbabwe for that. It’s actually better to work as a maid in South Africa where I am being paid R4,500 per month.”
Another nurse, who asked to remain anonymous, says it’s an insult that nurses are being called to come back to work and that they are still being offered the same salary they got fired over while protesting four years ago.
“This shows that the government is not concerned about our welfare,” says the nurse.
As well as being underpaid, she says nurses in the country continue to work without the proper resources.
“The hospitals don’t have protective clothing like gloves for their staff and the government should also introduce sustainable wages,” adds the nurse.
The HSB acting executive director, Angelbert Mbengwa, says the move is meant to facilitate urgent appointments to fill vacant posts in institutions.
The healthcare system in Zimbabwe continues to struggle due to the exodus of health officials who have moved to greener pastures.
President of the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA), Enock Dongo, says the call to retired and fired nurses is a clear indication that the situation in hospitals across the country is dire.
Pictured above: Nurses at Parirenyatwa Hospital
Picture source: NewsdzeZimbabwe
