Clinics turn away patients

Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
Patients seeking treatment at Gweru City Council-owned clinics yesterday failed to access services as council workers began an indefinite strike over a number of unresolved issues, including outstanding salaries.The patients included those on Anti-Retroviral Therapy and children seeking to be immunised.

The striking workers, who included nurses, refuse collectors, office clerks, fireman and security guards gathered at the Town House from as early as 7AM and dispersed at 5PM. They were demanding their 2014 bonus, salary, back pay and protective clothing.

A Chronicle news crew visited Mkoba 1 Clinic, Polyclinic in Mkoba 13, Isolation Hospital in Ascot, among other clinics where they witnessed patients being turned away.

A sister-in-charge at Mkoba 1 Clinic whose name could not be established told some women who had brought their children for immunisation to return today.

Scores of patients including those on ART were also turned away without being served.

“There are no clerks to collect council money and I only have student nurses who can’t run the clinic. All qualified nurses and clerks have gone to the city offices (Town House for the strike) to collect their salaries,” said the Sister-In-Charge to a mother who wanted her nine month old baby to be immunised for measles.

There was also an HIV positive patient who told the Sister-In-Charge that she had run out of her anti-retro viral drugs.

“What can I do now sister? I’ve run out of my tablets . . . I no longer have even a single tablet left and was supposed to get my new supply today (yesterday),” the desperate woman was heard pleading with the Sister-In-Charge to no avail.

She was asked to return today.

“Please, try tomorrow maybe the other people would be back,” said the Sister-In-Charge.

Interestingly, revenue halls were open with residents paying their water bills and rates.

Meanwhile, the striking workers once again took the law into their own hands when they went to Bata Shoe Company and disconnected water supplies without management approval.

The workers argued that management was sleeping on duty in terms of revenue collection.

They also threatened to disconnect water supplies at Anchor Yeast.

At the Town House, the striking employees sang and danced while blocking the way to the revenue hall. The Civic Centre, which houses the town clerk, Daniel Matawu, mayor Councillor Patrick Kombayi and senior management’s offices was closed for business. Two fire tenders were parked where the striking workers were.

In an interview on the sidelines on the strike, Frank Muzorera, secretary-general of the workers committee, said they decided to down their tools after realising that council was not forthcoming in meeting its obligations.

He said on Monday the workers’ representatives, management and councillors held a marathon meeting from 3PM to 10:30PM but failed to reach a consensus.

Muzorera said it was unfortunate that they decided to strike, a decision that affected rate payers.

“We’ve been told by the acting town treasurer that council is broke and is in arrears. He told us that one of its accounts was in the negative with minus $270,000 reflecting.

“We, however, agreed that council goes to FBC bank and borrow funds to pay our outstanding salaries, December bonus and salaries as well as back pay. So management is meeting FBC people to find a solution to our problem,” he said.

Muzorera reiterated that the industrial action was going to continue until their needs were addressed.

Town Clerk, Matawu said: “I’ve no comment concerning workers issues.”

Besides the December salaries workers at the financially crippled municipality are yet to be paid back-pay for April to July 2014.

On Friday, the council workers impounded a council minibus before they went to Fairmile Motel, government schools and the government complex where they disconnected water supplies without management approval. The employees said the seizure of the Toyota Quantum was aimed at blocking councillors and management from attending the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair which started in Bulawayo yesterday.