Zimbabwean health workers and teachers have embarked on a strike over their salaries.
The health workers held placards as they protested their meagre salaries in front of the Health Services Council of one of the country’s biggest hospitals.
Patients were left unattended to as Police officers stood to control the crowd.
Leader of the Zimbabwe Health Sector Union, Tapiwanashe Kusotera said health workers in the country are being massively underpaid.
A nurse in Zimababwe earns 18,000 Zim dollars every month and that’s about $55. Teachers earn $75 every month.
The AFP quoted the head of the national nurses association, Enock Dongo as saying; “Our Health Services Board, which is our employer, and the Ministry of Health have totally refused to talk to the employees,”
The government had promised to double civil servants’ salaries but hasn’t made official moves yet to make that happen.
Teachers had also commenced a week-long strike on Monday as they blamed their financial struggles on the government.
“We cannot continue to be an embarrassment to our community because of poverty which the government considers part of our working lives,” the statement wrote.
Inflation stood at 131% in May as it rose to new hyperinflation heights, similar to the situation the country faced some years ago.
Financial crisis on the country has led to deepened poverty with donors refusing to give the country loans again over failed agreement.
