9 health unions merge to push for better salaries 

Source: 9 health unions merge to push for better salaries – NewsDay Zimbabwe

BY MIRIAM MANGWAYA
NINE health workers’ unions have merged and formed the Nurses Federation of Zimbabwe (NFoZ) to strengthen their fight for better salaries and working conditions.

NFoZ, which was formed on February 12, 2022, seeks to affiliate with the Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (ZCPSTU) made up of other civil servants’ federations.

On Saturday, NFoZ acting secretary-general Douglas Chikobvu wrote to ZCPSTU secretary-general David Dzatsunga seeking permission to join the public sector federation.

NFoZ consists of the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZiNA), ZPNU, Zimbabwe Confederation of Midwives (ZICOM), Zimbabwe Urban and Rural Council Nurses Workers Union (ZURCNWU), Zimbabwe Association of Theatre Nurses (ZATN) and the Nurses Educators Association of Zimbabwe (NEAZ), among others.

In the interim, the NFoZ is chaired by Enock Dongo who is ZiNA president, while Tashinga Muchena of ZICOM is the organising secretary.

Chikobvu told NewsDay that health workers joined the ZCPSTU to align their interests with those of the rest of the civil servants.

Dzatsunga confirmed receipt of the NFoZ letter and said the application was yet to be brought before the ZCPSTU council for deliberations.

“We believe that the more we are, the stronger we are. We are yet to sit as a council to deliberate on the application but I don’t see any reason why NFoZ would be rejected as an affiliate member of the ZCPSTU,” Dzatsugna said.