Zambia to sack nurses over strike

Zambia will sack all striking nurses and paramedics if they do not return to work immediately, Health Minister Kapembwa Simba said on Friday, 22 days after medical staff first walked out in a pay dispute.

The walkout has forced health authorities to shut down some wards and created a public outcry after a woman gave birth to a baby in a car park of the main University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka. The baby died a few minutes later due to abnormal delivery.

“Those who do not report for work [immediately] should consider themselves dismissed,” Simbao said on the state-run ZNBC radio.

Nurses want a 25% wage hike, against a government offer of 15%.

They have also demanded an average monthly housing allowance of $250 and a monthly night duty allowance of $200.

Junior nurses earn about $300 while senior nurses’ monthly pay is about $400.

Zambia President Rupiah Banda on Wednesday said the health workers’ demands were outrageous given the wage bill for public workers was set to account for about 50% of the country’s total 10,6-trillion Zambia kwacha ($2,01-billion) revenue.

Simba said the government was on a drive to recruit retired nurses and those from abroad.

“Qualified nurses from within the southern African region are encouraged to apply for vacancies on local conditions that may be created as a result of nursing staff not reporting for work,” Simbao said.—Reuters