Zimbabwe Nurses Strike Over Pay and Working Conditions

[Yesha]

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Nurses at the country’s major public hospitals, including Parirenyatwa General Hospital and Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, have commenced industrial action this week, demanding a meaningful salary review and higher allowances as the cost of living continues to outpace their earnings.

On Monday and Tuesday, nurses gathered at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare, carrying placards and refusing to undertake certain duties as part of their protest over wages they say are no longer sufficient to cover basic expenses.

What Nurses Are Demanding​

The nurses’ grievances centre on low monthly salaries and inadequate allowances in the face of escalating costs for transport, food, housing and utilities. According to recent reporting, nurses in Zimbabwe’s public sector earn around US$450 a month, a mix of hard currency and local currency, which protesters argue falls far short of meeting basic needs amid rising prices for essentials.

Nurses have specifically called for:

• A review and increase in base salaries to align with actual cost‑of‑living pressures.
• Higher transport and duty allowances, including for night shifts. Protesters said the current transport allowance of roughly US$15 is inadequate, with many now paying up to US$6 for a one‑way commute alone.

Cost‑of‑Living Pressure on Public Sector Workers​

Zimbabwe’s economy remains challenging for ordinary workers despite official inflation figures showing moderation. Everyday items such as fuel and transport have surged in price in recent weeks, pushing commuter fares higher and squeezing already tight household budgets. A recent increase pushed petrol prices to over US$2.17 per litre, contributing to greater travel costs for workers.

Government figures suggest that average civil servant wages are above the official poverty datum line, but multiple local analysts and union representatives insist that such measures do not accurately reflect real living conditions, with typical household costs far exceeding average income levels.

For context, commentators and public workers have noted that a truly ‘living wage’ for Zimbabwe’s civil servants might exceed US$1,200 per month if it were to cover basic household expenses such as food, rent, education and transport.

Official Response and Negotiations​

In response to the protests, government officials — including the presidency spokesman — have acknowledged the pressures on public sector workers and signalled that a wage review is due by April 2026, separate from the immediate protests. Authorities have also hinted at possible measures to ease fuel costs, which have ripple effects on public transport fares.

Officials say the wage review has been in planning for months and is tied to a broader civil service job evaluation exercise intended to modernise pay structures. However, details on the scale of increases and when they will be implemented remain unclear.

Impact on Health Services​

While nurses say they are not refusing to work entirely, they have scaled down certain duties, including night shifts and overtime, as a form of pressure tactic. These disruptions have raised concerns about service delivery at major public hospitals, with some departments facing staff shortages during crucial shifts.

The strike comes at a time when Zimbabwe’s public health system is already under strain from years of resource constraints, staff shortages and professionals migrating abroad for better pay and conditions.