Zimbabwe’s health minister on Thursday urged doctors to end a pay strike that has crippled public medical care, saying they should return to work to save the lives of suffering patients. Junior doctors at public hospitals began a work boycott three weeks ago to demand salary increases of more than 8 000% — leaving hospital waiting rooms jammed with patients needing treatment.

Zimbabwe’s annual inflation raced to a new record in December, inflicting more pain on workers who recently began protest strikes against the worsening economic crisis. The Central Statistical Office said on Wednesday annual inflation reached 1 281,1% in December from 1 098,8% the previous month.

Zimbabwe’s central bank admitted on Monday it was losing the battle against spiralling inflation due to political and other factors outside its control. President Robert Mugabe’s government has branded inflation — which slowed to 1 023% in September but remains the world’s highest — its number one enemy.

Zimbabwe said on Friday it hoped to secure investment deals from a visiting Russian business delegation, a potential boost to its ailing economy and Moscow’s own bid to raise its economic profile in Southern Africa. Analysts said Russia’s interest in the sub-region, following a determined push by China, signalled growing competition for Africa’s natural resources as the two economies boom.