By Kuda Pembere
The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) has announced a nationwide three-day strike beginning next Monday after Government failed to deliver on a promised salary increase.
The industrial action follows what nurses describe as a disappointing US$30 increment in April salaries, far below expectations of a salary of around US$600.
ZINA had initially issued a 14-day notice to Government, through the Health Service Commission (HSC), over remuneration concerns, with the strike initially scheduled to begin on April 15.
However, after engagements in which Government reportedly promised to increase salaries to about US$600, nurses were shocked to receive only a modest increment, largely in local currency.
This development has prompted ZINA to proceed with strike action, after issuing a fresh 48-hour notice to the employer.
Speaking to journalists after addressing nurses at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, ZINA president Enock Dongo said while Government had shown willingness to engage, it had failed to make a meaningful offer.
“Government is responding well in terms of inviting us to the table to discuss the grievances that we have. But the unfortunate part is that there is no meaningful offer that has been given by Government since we started these engagements. And this has necessitated all these noises that you are hearing from nurses and other workers.
“Because it has been long before the nurses have been given a meaningful increment by Government. The whole of last year, we did not receive any increment. And we were hoping to receive the increment as promised by Government in the first quarter of 2026,” he said.
Dongo said nurses were astonished by Government’s failure to honour its commitment, noting that the April 2026 adjustments fell far short of both the undertaking and workers’ expectations.
“But we are now in the second quarter and we thought we were going to get something in April. But to our surprise, what they promised us in our last engagement is not what we got. We were expecting something like more than $550 to $600 into the nurses’ accounts, according to the figures that we had agreed on,” he said.
He added that the US$30 increment was largely in ZiG currency and varied from one employee to another.
“But to our surprise, our people remain where they were before. Those who managed to get some increment received something like $30 to $40 in ZiG, not in hard currency. In U.S. dollars, no one has received anything.
“But in the ZiG component, that is where a few got increases, and it varied from one person to another,” he said.
Dongo said nurses had initially intended to down tools immediately but postponed the strike to allow due process and give Government time to address the concerns.
“This has necessitated where we are today, where we have given notice which was supposed to start today.
“The nurses wanted to go on strike. As you can see, there were so many nurses coming in, eager to strike.
“Why we decided to move it to Monday is to give the legal process a chance. Our notice had expired yesterday and we were supposed to start the industrial action today if nothing had changed. But there was engagement and a promise that was made.
“That has given Government leeway to say they have responded in part to our demands. Although what they did is not what we agreed on and is not enough, the law gives us a chance to issue another 48-hour notice for them to fulfil what they promised,” he said.
He said the extension was also meant to give Government time to address outstanding issues.
“We hope that from now until Monday, Government will take this seriously and rectify these issues. We also take into consideration that a strike is a last resort as health workers,” he said.
Dongo warned that a strike would have serious consequences for patients, particularly those reliant on public health institutions.
“When the nurses are on strike, people die. That is the truth. A lot of Zimbabweans rely on Government institutions.
“In all these institutions, the first port of call is the nurse. If we do not have nurses at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, definitely lives will be lost. This is not what we want.
“So this is a chance that has been given to Government from now until next week to act and prevent the loss of life for ordinary Zimbabweans who rely on public institutions,” he said.
