Written by Rumbidzai Thelma Chidewu
20th April 2026
have embarked on a strike to protest poor
salaries lays bare a critical human rights crisis in Zimbabwe. What appears on
the surface as a labour dispute is, in reality, a direct violation of
fundamental rights enshrined in international law—rights that the government
has consistently failed to uphold.
According to the statement shared by ZINA, healthcare
workers have declared “enough is enough” as they take action against inadequate
pay and poor working conditions in government hospitals. This action comes even
after a ZIG 1000 payment was deposited into their accounts this month, an
amount clearly insufficient to cover basic living costs amid Zimbabwe’s severe
economic instability. By failing to provide fair and livable wages, the
government is in direct breach of Article 7 of the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which guarantees the right to
just and favourable conditions of work, including fair remuneration ensuring a
decent standard of living for workers and their families. Zimbabwe is a
signatory to this treaty, meaning these obligations are legally binding.
The consequences of this failure extend far beyond the
nurses themselves. When healthcare staff are forced to down tools due to
economic desperation, access to medical services collapses. Patients—including
pregnant women, children, the elderly, and those with life-threatening
conditions—are left without essential care. This situation violates Article 12
of the ICESCR, which recognises the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the
highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Additionally, Article
25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states that everyone has
the right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being; this
right is being denied to both health workers and the patients they serve.
Critics have also accused ZINA of aligning with President
Mnangagwa’s 2030 agenda, a claim that adds another layer to the crisis. Many
view the government’s handling of labour negotiations as a political tool,
using economic pressure to silence dissent and maintain control. This reflects
a broader pattern in which state institutions are weaponised against workers,
undermining the rights to freedom of association and the right to strike, as
protected by Article 8 of the ICESCR and Convention 87 of the International
Labour Organisation (ILO), which Zimbabwe has ratified. When workers are forced
to choose between feeding their families and keeping their jobs, or when their
representative bodies are perceived as compromised by state influence, their
ability to advocate for their rights is severely eroded.
Furthermore, these economic and social rights violations do
not exist in isolation. Under Article 2(1) of the ICESCR, States Parties are
required to take steps, individually and through international assistance, to
achieve the full realisation of these rights progressively. The current crisis
demonstrates that the Zimbabwean government has not only failed to make
progress but has actively allowed conditions to deteriorate, putting the lives
and dignity of its people at risk.
For years, international organisations and human rights
groups have documented how the Zimbabwean government repeatedly violates
economic and social rights, often as a by-product of political repression. The
nurses’ strike is not an isolated event but part of a systemic failure in which
state policies prioritise the retention of power over citizens' welfare. Until the
government respects its international obligations, ensures fair wages,
allocates resources transparently, and allows workers to organise freely, such
protests will continue—and the human rights of ordinary Zimbabweans, including
the right to life, will remain under severe threat.
Lack of adequate healthcare results in unnecessary deaths,
thereby impacting the right to life.
As a human rights activist, I implore the government of Zimbabwe
to address this matter urgently.
About the author
Rumbidzai Thelma Chidewu is a
human rights activist based in the United Kingdom. She is a member of the UK
Chapter of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe. She can be
contacted by email at rumbidzaithelmazhanje@gmail.com
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