Nurses in Matabeleland North Province are yet to be paid their allowances for participating in the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
Nurses who spoke to Southern Eye said they were promised US$120 at the interbank rate when the programme started last year but the Government has failed to honour its commitment. One of the affected nurses said:
We were promised US$120 at the interbank rate, but nothing has been paid so far. Inflation is devaluing our money.
The intensified COVID-19 campaign was carried out successfully but we have not been paid for months.
Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) enumerators were paid their money.
This means that the Health ministry is sleeping on duty.
Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) president Enock Dongo said nurses who contracted coronavirus are entitled to US$600 compensation, but they had not been paid. He added:
The COVID-19 vaccination programmes were done nationally and currently, there is another vaccination campaign that has been ongoing for two weeks.
The issue remains that the ministry should recognise its workforce.
People who participated in the ZimStat census and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) by-elections were paid their allowances after finishing their tasks, but the Health ministry takes its time to pay health workers.
Ministry of Health and Childcare spokesperson Donald Mujiri referred all questions to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
Southern Eye reported that Finance ministry spokesperson Clive Mphambela asked questions in writing but had not responded to them by the time of going to print.