Zimbabwe’s already ailing public healthcare system is teetering on the edge of collapse as nurses across the country have issued a warning of an imminent nationwide strike over poor salaries, worsening working conditions, and critical staff shortages.The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) is facing mounting pressure from its members, who have expressed deep frustration at the government’s continued failure to address their long-standing grievances. In a series of leaked letters sent from provincial nurse representatives to the union leadership, the nurses made it clear that they had exhausted all peaceful avenues for resolution and were left with no choice but to consider industrial action.
“Due to poor remuneration, poor working conditions, and chronic staff shortages, we are unable to perform our duties as nurses effectively,” one letter stated. “Despite numerous appeals and efforts to resolve these issues amicably, there has been no satisfactory response or tangible action from the authorities.”
The looming strike comes at a time when Zimbabwe’s public health sector is already crippled by years of underfunding, dilapidated infrastructure, and the mass exodus of skilled personnel to neighbouring countries and beyond. With most government-employed nurses earning salaries equivalent to less than US$200 a month, many are struggling to afford transport, food, and housing — let alone provide for their families.
In public hospitals and clinics, nurses remain the backbone of healthcare service delivery. But many are now overburdened, with some reportedly attending to more than 30 patients per shift. Medication shortages, malfunctioning medical equipment, and lack of basic supplies like gloves and syringes have become the morn.“Our nurses are working under unbearable conditions,” said one hospital administrator in Bulawayo, who asked not to be named. “Most wards are understaffed, and those who remain are demoralised and fatigued. If they strike, the consequences will be devastating.”
Zimbabwe Nurses Threaten Nationwide Strike as Health Sector Nears Breaking Point
The letters from the nurses warned that unless urgent steps are taken by government authorities to improve conditions and compensation, they would be compelled to withdraw their services in accordance with Zimbabwean labour law provisions.
“In line with the country’s labour laws and regulations, we are left with no option but to take industrial action,” the letter continued. “We are not doing this lightly, but we have been left with no viable alternative.”
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Sleiman Kwidini, confirmed the government was aware of the growing discontent among nurses.
“We know their plight, and as the government, we are working on it,” he told reporters briefly.
However, many nurses and union leaders remain unconvinced, pointing to years of unmet promises, piecemeal wage adjustments that fail to keep up with inflation, and a lack of genuine commitment to reforming the healthcare system.
ZINA President Enock Dongo could not be reached for comment at the time of publication, but sources within the union said preparations for a possible strike are well underway.
Zimbabwe’s nurses have staged several strikes over the past decade, often demanding living wages, protective equipment, and better working conditions. In many cases, their protests were met with threats of dismissal, suspension without pay, or token salary increases that quickly lost value in the face of soaring inflation.
Health sector professionals say the government’s failure to retain skilled staff has contributed to a vicious cycle of brain drain, increased patient loads, and declining service quality. According to the Health Services Board, more than 4,000 nurses and doctors have left the public service since 2020 alone.
If the strike proceeds, thousands of patients who rely on public hospitals and clinics for maternal care, chronic disease treatment, emergency services, and routine checkups could be left stranded.
“We are barely managing as it is,” said a nurse at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare. “If we go on strike, the system will collapse — but we’re left with no choice. We also have families, bills, and a right to be treated with dignity.”
Civil society organisations and public health advocates have urged the government to act quickly to open dialogue with nurses and offer a genuine package of reforms and incentives. They warn that continued inaction could lead to a total breakdown in healthcare delivery, with dire consequences for the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
“Nurses are not making unreasonable demands,” said health economist Dr. Tinashe Musviba. “They are simply asking for fair pay and safe working conditions. The state must prioritise healthcare spending and end the cycle of neglect and empty promises.”
As tensions rise and the threat of industrial action grows, Zimbabwe now faces a critical moment that could define the future of its public healthcare system. Without urgent intervention, the nation may soon be plunged into one of its most serious healthcare crises in decades.
