'Marching Orders' for Zim Doctors

Cape Argus (Cape Town)
NEWS
January 5, 2004
Posted to the web January 5, 2004

By Basildon Peta

Zimbabwe's new defence forces boss General Constantine Chiwenga has ordered all
striking doctors to report back to work immediately or risk detention by the
army, according to a Zimbabwe newspaper.
Chiwenga took over the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) from General Vitalis
Zvinavashe on New Year's Day. The two-month-old strike by doctors and nurses
has crippled Zimbabwe's health delivery system.
According to the Zimbabwe Independent, the new army chief chaired a recent
meeting between Health Minister David Parirenyatwa and three representatives of
the Hospital Doctors Association (HDA).
Parirenyatwa has confirmed the meeting but denied he threatened the doctors.
"You are well aware that army doctors are helping in the hospitals so naturally
he is concerned. He was merely appealing to the doctors to go back to work,"
the minister was quoted as saying.
But the Zimbabwe Independent quoted Chiwenga as telling doctors: "If you refuse
to co-operate we can take you to the barracks and detain you and you will see
what will happen. I have fought 45 battles since I was 17 and I have never
lost. This one is just a cup of tea and we can solve it within a matter of
minutes."
The crisis deepened last month when the Public Service Commission tried to
force the doctors back to work by declaring the strike illegal.
This failed when seven HDA members were acquitted in the Magistrates' Court.
Chiwenga reportedly told doctors: "I am sorry to inform you that we do not
respect that ruling. We are the ones who are in power and we can choose to
ignore that ruling."
But the doctors have vowed to continue striking until their demands for an 8
000% salary increase are met. Junior state doctors now earn the equivalent of
R400.

   

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