Zimbabwe’s health sector is under fresh strain after members of the Zimbabwe Nurses Association abandoned plans for public demonstrations and instead began a 72-hour stay-away, citing intimidation and pressure.

The industrial action has raised concern over patient care, with fears that reduced staffing levels could disrupt services and put lives at risk.

Zimbabwean activist General Sithole says the decision followed what he described as widespread victimisation of health worker representatives.

“Leaders were being targeted, and there was intimidation on the ground. For the safety of everyone, they resorted to a stay-away,” he said.

While authorities have reportedly deployed student nurses and senior staff to fill the gaps, Sithole warned that the contingency measures fall short.

“Those stepping in are not fully in touch with day-to-day patient care anymore. The disruption is real, and services are affected,” he said.

Nurses have long complained about low salaries and poor working conditions, with some saying they cannot even afford transport to work. Sithole noted that the grievances date back several years, with repeated calls for wage reviews and better resources yielding little progress.

“There are shortages of basic materials, including protective equipment and medicines. Conditions in hospitals are not acceptable,” he added.

The government maintains that limited revenue and budget constraints have made it difficult to meet the demands of civil servants.

However, the situation has been further inflamed by reports that about $3.6 million was recently distributed among Members of Parliament and senators. Sithole claims the funds were provided by a private individual, raising questions about priorities and governance.

“We are seeing a system that cannot support essential services, yet individuals are able to distribute large sums of money. That points to a deeper crisis,” he said.

–ChannelAfrica–