• About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Write for us
  • Contact
  • Terms of service
No Result
View All Result
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
THE MILLENNIAL SOURCE
  • World
  • US
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Profiles
  • Lifestyle
    • Food & Travel
    • Tech & Money
    • Health
    • Entertainment
  • Newsletter
TMS
No Result
View All Result
Home WORLD

Zimbabwe doctors to end strike after billionaire’s offer to pay salaries

January 24, 2020
in WORLD
Reading Time: 2 minute read
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin



Zimbabwean telecoms billionaire Strive Masiyiwa has offered to pay doctors on strike in the country in order to get them to return to work.

Masiyiwa plans to set up a US$6.25 million (100 million Zimbabwean dollars) fund to financially support up to 2,000 doctors, by providing each doctor a subsistence allowance of about US$300 a month to help pay for transport and living costs.

According to Forbes, Masiyiwa currently boasts a fortune worth about $1.1 billion. The billionaire who lives in the United Kingdom will fund the doctors for six months through a fellowship program run by his charity, Higherlife Foundation.

Masiyiwa is the founder of Econet Wireless, a diversified telecommunications group headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

Offer on the table

In a statement on January 21, the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) confirmed that the generous offer from the billionaire has been acknowledged. “In light of the recent development, the ZHDA wants to extend its gratitude to the Higherlife Foundation for extending its offer once again to all government doctors. The ZHDA is encouraging its entire membership to go and apply for the training fellowship before the stipulated deadline,” the ZHDA tweeted. 

Speaking to the BBC, a spokesman for the ZHDA, Dr Tawanda Zvakada, said that the doctors were “still looking for a long-term solution.” A majority of the doctors on strike are barely getting by on food and transportation. They are demanding a 400% salary hike which will take their monthly salaries to around US$111. 

Zimbabwe is experiencing a severe economic crisis resulting in high unemployment, food shortages and constant power blackouts.

Abductions and dismissal of doctors

The BBC reports that the doctors are not calling it a strike – rather an “incapacitation,” claiming they cannot afford to go to work.

Shortly after protests against low wages had begun in mid-September 2019, the ZHDA’s acting president, Peter Magombeyi was kidnapped and found five days later – in pain and confused. Authorities deny having any involvement in the cases of mysterious abductions in Zimbabwe, which often leaves the victims beaten up and threatened. 

Since the strike began in September last year, 448 doctors have been fired for striking and violating a labor court ruling that ordered them to return to work. Another 150 still face disciplinary hearings, as the local court has ordered doctors to return to work within 48 hours after a ruling that their boycott is illegal.

[article_ad]

Related

Tags: AfricaShort read
ShareTweetShare

Latest Posts

Trump warns Iran of “1,000 times greater” response to any assassination plot or attack on US

Trump warns Iran of “1,000 times greater” response to any assassination plot or attack on US

September 17, 2020
world reacts to uae and israel normalising diplomatic ties

World reacts to UAE and Israel move to normalize diplomatic ties

August 14, 2020
Justice Department accuses Yale University of racial discrimination in undergraduate admissions process

US Department of Justice accuses Yale University of racial discrimination in admissions process

August 14, 2020

Resurgence of COVID-19 potentially theatens New Zealand election date

August 13, 2020

Biden and Harris pledge to lead America out of crisis in first public event since VP announcement

August 13, 2020

Jimmy Lai released on bail as Next Digital stock price soars

August 12, 2020

History made as Joe Biden picks Kamala Harris for his vice-presidential 2020 election running mate

August 12, 2020

Russian vaccine becomes the first coronavirus vaccine to be approved, but concerns linger over rushed testing process

August 11, 2020

Seattle police chief retires after city council votes to cut US$3.5 million from the police budget

August 11, 2020
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Write for us
  • Contact
  • Terms of service

© 2020 The Millennial Source Ltd.

No Result
View All Result
  • World
  • US
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Profiles
  • Lifestyle
    • Food & Travel
    • Tech & Money
    • Health
    • Entertainment
  • Newsletter

© 2020 The Millennial Source Ltd.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

The Millennial Source
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.