"We Cannot Work for Nothing": Parirenyatwa Nurses Stage Protest as Nationwide Strike Looms

HARARE — Tensions in Zimbabwe's public health sector reached a boiling point yesterday, Tuesday, 14 April 2026, as nurses at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals staged a localized protest over "starvation wages" and deteriorating working conditions.

The demonstration, characterized by singing and sit-ins within the hospital grounds, served as a final warning shot to the government. The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) has officially declared a three-day nationwide strike scheduled to begin today, April 15, and run through April 17, strategically coinciding with the eve of the country’s Independence Day celebrations.

Despite the visible unrest at Parirenyatwa, some staff members displayed a cautious front when approached by the press. Many maintained they were merely on "routine tea breaks," likely fearing the repercussions of recent crackdowns. Just last month, 15 nurses were reportedly arrested during a similar picket at Marondera Provincial Hospital, a move that has left the medical community on edge.

"We want our money. We cannot continue working for nothing," shouted one protester, while others opted for silent sit-ins in the hospital courtyards. ZINA President Enock Dongo has been vocal about the crisis, noting that many nurses are earning less than US$300 a month—a figure that has been decimated by rising transport costs and triple-digit inflation.

The planned industrial action is expected to paralyze major referral centers, including Sally Mugabe Central and Chitungwiza Central, though ZINA has advised staff in intensive and critical care units to remain on duty to prevent loss of life.

Key grievances cited by the union include:

• Basic Salary Review: Calls for a meaningful cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to match the current economic climate.

• Transport Crisis: With fuel prices exceeding US$2 per litre, many health workers report walking long distances to work.

• Pensions & Grading: Concerns that low base pay is ruining future retirement prospects and that job evaluation exercises have been "unfair."

• Institutional Housing: Demand for free on-site accommodation to ease the financial burden on essential staff.

The Health Service Commission (HSC) and the Ministry of Health have yet to offer a breakthrough proposal. While a general civil service pay rise was implemented on April 1, bringing the lowest-paid workers to roughly US$296, unions have rejected the adjustment as insufficient. As Zimbabwe prepares for its 46th Independence anniversary, the healthcare standoff presents a significant challenge for the administration, with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) urging the government to prioritize the "living wage" of its frontline workers.

Parirenyatwa nurses protest April 2026