President of the Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs, Chief Fortune Charumbira last week told the government that it should invite the traditional leaders to mediate with doctors. The doctors have been on strike for almost four weeks now, protesting against inadequate allowances, poor working conditions and lack of essential drugs and equipment. This comes after Minister of Health and Child Care, David Parirenyatwa referred the matter to president Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputies.
Speaking in the Senate, Charumbira said,
Whenever there is a strike, we have people who try and solve the situation. We believe these go-betweens should assist in shelving this industrial action. We are saying, if you have problems in talking to the workers that are on industrial action, please you may also invite us as traditional leaders.
We can talk to them (doctors) and they will understand. When we have intervened and made resolutions, please follow up on those resolutions because at the moment, people are in problems.
The Minister did not respond to the chief’s request.
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