Zimbabwe Nurses Announce Nationwide Strike Over Poor Salaries and Working Conditions
In a bold move to demand better pay and improved working conditions, nurses across Zimbabwe are set to embark on a three-day nationwide strike starting April 15, 2026. The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) issued the strike notice to the Health Services Commission, urging authorities to address their grievances before the next pay cycle to avoid the industrial action.
Escalating Tensions
The announcement follows a series of protests that began last week at Sally Mugabe Hospital in Harare and quickly spread to other major healthcare facilities, including Parirenyatwa Hospital. Nurses have voiced frustrations over what they describe as “unacceptably low” salaries that fail to keep pace with soaring living costs.
In their notice, ZINA emphasized that nurses are struggling to make ends meet, with many unable to afford transportation to work and forced to walk long distances. The association also highlighted concerns over unexplained salary deductions, lack of payslips, outdated allowances, high accommodation costs, and chronic staff shortages.
A Call for Urgent Action
Among their key demands is the immediate implementation of a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to ensure salaries are aligned with the current economic realities. Nurses argue that their basic salary, which also determines their retirement packages, is so low that it risks pushing them into poverty after years of dedicated service.
“In the spirit of amicable resolution, we have given the employer more than the required 48-hour notice to address these issues,” the notice stated. “However, if no action is taken, nurses will have no choice but to proceed with the strike.”
Impact on Healthcare Services
The strike will involve nurses working at central, provincial, and district hospitals, as well as clinics and other healthcare centers nationwide. Only those stationed in intensive and critical care units will remain on duty to ensure patient safety.
Healthcare workers have made it clear that the strike is not their preferred course of action and are willing to call it off if their demands are met before the April 15 deadline. “Should there be a positive response to our demands, the nurses will consider canceling the strike,” the notice added.
A Growing Crisis
The looming strike highlights the deepening crisis in Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector, which has been plagued by years of underfunding and neglect. Nurses, who form the backbone of the country’s healthcare system, say they can no longer bear the financial strain brought on by inflation and economic instability.
The government now faces mounting pressure to resolve the dispute swiftly and avert a nationwide disruption of healthcare services.
— Reported by Nexio News
