Harare, (New Ziana)-At least 1 280 nurses have failed to heed. the call to return to normal working hours forcing government to institute disciplinary measures against them, a Cabinet Minister said on Tuesday.

Cabinet recently resolved to cancel the flexible working arrangement that had been put in light of the COVID-19 lockdown regulations and warned that nurses who fail to report for duty be subjected to disciplinary processes.

Addressing a post Cabinet media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said it was unfortunate that the Health Services Board was now pursuing disciplinary action against the errant nurses.

“Unfortunately some nurses, have continued to defy the Government directive banning the ‘Flexi Hours’ regime. The various nurses’ labour organizations comprising the Zimbabwe Nurses Association; Confederation of Nurses Association; Theatre Nurses Association and the Nurses Educators Association met with the Health Services Board and resolved to comply with the Government directive save for the Zimbabwe Nurses Association.

“A total of 1 280 nurses failed to heed to the call to return to normal working hours,” she said.

Mutsvangwa added: “The Health Services Board has started instituting disciplinary hearings for the defiant nurses”.

Mutsvangwa said Cabinet also resolved that
the country’s nursing services be restructured and supported by three pillars; namely contract workers; Health Service Permanent Workers; and Secondment from the Uniformed Forces.

New Ziana