A state publication, The Herald has reported that there are divisions within the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, a union representing junior and middle-level doctors.
The alleged disagreements are reportedly being caused by reports suggesting that the association’s leadership is being paid to continue with the industrial action which started on the 3rd of September whilst the rest of doctors are not receiving anything.
The Herald reports that one disgruntled doctor revealed that there were plans by some doctors who were not happy with the leadership, to form a new union saying that the current one has been captured. The unnamed doctor said:
The whole idea is premised on the belief that the current leadership has been captured, which can easily be linked to their conduct in the public sphere.
Magombeyi is living a lavish lifestyle in South Africa while we have not been paid here for three months. We cannot continue to work for other people.
There were reports, mainly by government officials and sympathisers alleging that the ZHDA leadership was being paid by foreign donors and by Doug Coltart to continue with the strike so as to destabilise the government.
Meanwhile, some doctors have also dismissed the allegations saying that they don’t need anyone to tell them that their salaries were no longer sustainable.
More: The Herald