Government Urges Nurses to End Strike as Talks Intensify

The Minister of Health and Child Care, Douglas Mombeshora, has called on nurses in selected health institutions to suspend their ongoing industrial action, as government moves to stabilise the environment for renewed negotiations.

The appeal comes amid growing concern over the impact of the strike on healthcare delivery, with authorities pushing for what the Minister described as a transparent and constructive engagement process.

During a recent address, Dr Mombeshora acknowledged the concerns raised by nurses and reaffirmed government’s commitment to resolving the matter.

“The government fully acknowledges the grievances raised by the nursing fraternity and remains committed to finding a sustainable resolution,” he said.

The industrial action, which began on April 20, 2026, was triggered by long-standing challenges faced by healthcare workers, including poor working conditions, rising transport costs, and dissatisfaction with recent salary adjustments.

The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) has expressed frustration over the salary review, indicating that the increment fell far below expectations and has left many nurses struggling to meet basic living expenses.

In response, government has convened an extraordinary technical meeting involving the Health Apex Panel and the Health Services Commission to urgently assess the situation and explore possible solutions.

While recognising the legitimacy of the nurses’ concerns, the Ministry has emphasised the need to strike a balance between improving worker welfare and maintaining essential healthcare services.

“Nurses must return to work to ensure that patients are not adversely affected while negotiations continue,” Minister Mombeshora stated.

The government maintains that dialogue remains the best path toward a lasting solution.

Union leaders had initially held off on industrial action to allow for legal processes and engagement with authorities.