By Shongadzai Mugwagwa

The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA)’s rejection of the olive branch extended to them to end the 88 day strike has exposed the disingenuousness of the Union, The Harare Post can reveal.

The Harare Post is in possession of the communication by ZDHA in which they said that they appreciated the gesture made by both Strive Masiyiwa’s High Life Foundation (HLF) and the Catholic Bishops but would not consider any of the gestures.

“As such, it was concluded that, in as much as the support from HLF is welcome, it does not address completely the demands of the doctors for a salary whose value is preserved despite soaring inflation as well as the provision of adequate and appropriate tools of trade,” reads the press release.

“We appreciate the role played by the Catholic Bishops which has resulted in the doctors being issued a moratorium, valid for the next 48 hours. Sadly the moratorium has come without a new offer on the table having been communicated to us. Should this moratorium lapse without the formal communication of an offer that is reasonable, it would stand yet another gracious privilege that is lost,” further stated the ZHDA.

Various commentators have lashed out at the doctors accusing them of exhibiting unprofessional conduct of spanning help extended to them by outside stakeholders.

It is accused that the gestures extended to the doctors by both Masiyiwa and the Catholic Bishops have exposed the doctors as the latter had begged President Mnangagwa to allow doctors to return to work without reapplying.

There is a furore on social media regards the behaviour of the doctors and to that end, one Tafara Shumba said “then these doctors are not sincere. Why do people want to achieve their selfish goals through the suffering of other people? We have sanctions and now this silent genocide.”

Another cyber troll, Kuda Mugova, said, “I'm starting to worry about their cause.”