There was limited or no services at schools, hospitals and government officials, some civil servants stayed home or simply reported for duty but were not working on Tuesday as the civil servant strike commenced.
Some schools, especially those in areas rocked by Monday’s violence, were deserted Tuesday while at major health institutions like Parirenyatwa and Harare hospitals, services were limited with no doctors and a few nurses attending to patients.
Some of the workers, who refused to be named as they are not allowed to speak to the press, said Parirenyatwa Hospital discharged an unprecedented high number of patients Monday and Tuesday as the strike began.
Doctors had completely downed tools with some sections closed down while others had very few patients.
Though most pupils in Harare’s southwestern suburbs attended school Tuesday, authorities told them not to come so school Wednesday.
Cecilia Alexander, chairperson of the Apex council, a body representing government workers’ associations, said the job action was successful but was worried that some political activists were planning to hijack the strike.
She said theirs was purely a labor issue.
However, Promise Mkwanazi of Tajamuka-Sesijikile movement said they are ready for the mass stay away.
He said Wednesday’s demo is about government’s failure to address their problems including its failure to pay civil servants and corruption, among other issues.
- VOA
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