HARARE – Zimbabwe public doctors on Wednesday called off a two-week strike for more pay, responding to a call by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to return to work while the government scrounges around for funds to meet their demands.

The doctors were however now pressing the government to provide them with car and housing allowances within a month, according to Hospital Doctors Association (HAD) president Blessing Chizhande.

Tsvangirai last week appealed to the doctors to go back to work saying government was addressing their concerns.

"We have called off the strike after realising that government has no money," Chizhande said.

“The government has no money, and we have heeded calls by the Prime Minister who last week said we should go back to work until a solution is found. Although we have called off the strike we are giving government a one month ultimatum that they give us housing and vehicles allowances which will be paid over a number of years."

Doctors earn around US$170 per month. They had wanted the government to hike the salary to US$1 000 plus US$500 allowance but the cash-strapped administration offered to top doctors salaries by an allowance of only US$48.

The industrial action had brought back memories of last year when striking doctors and nurses deserted public hospitals as a cholera epidemic ravaged Zimbabwe, killing more than 4 000 people before it was brought under control with help from international relief agencies.

By Zimonline