HARARE – The government claimed a breakthrough in ending the over-a-month-long strike by doctors, but the deal was repudiated by the doctors who said their conditions for returning to work remained unmet.

Health Minister Obadiah Moyo released a purported agreement late Saturday which he said should culminate in the doctors, on strike since December 1, returning to work within 48 hours.

The government committed to review the doctors’ salaries in April; fill 214 posts for specialist doctors; release money for a vehicle loan scheme as well as offer duty free vehicle imports to the value of US$7,500 for junior doctors, US$15,000 for middle level doctors and US$30,000 for senior doctors.

The government also “assures its employees of long-term commitments to ensure availability of basic medicines and sundries in all institutions”, said the agreement signed by a P. Chivese for the workers and a T. A. Zigora for the government.

The government would also abolish the health workers’ employer, the Health Services Board, and replace it with a Health Services Commission. The doctors would also face “no dismissals or suspensions and no further pursuing of court proceedings after this agreement.”

But the agreement did not address the doctors’ central demand to be paid in United States dollars, with the government only pledging “continued engagement between government and health workers concerning remuneration in US dollars.”

Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) secretary-general Mthabisi Bhebhe said they rejected the agreement and their strike was continuing. Chivese, who said for the workers, was a representative of the civil service body, the Apex Council, and not doctors, Bhebhe insisted.

“He does not speak on behalf of the doctors. We refused to counter-sign the agreement because we don’t agree with a number of issues contained in the so-called agreement. In short, the strike is still on. It is unfortunate that government wants to play to the gallery with facts,” Bhebhe said.