By Lukundo Nankamba and Leah Ngoma
As the go slow by resident doctors enters its 4th day, police in Lusaka have surrounded the residence of protesting doctors at the University Teaching Hospital –UTH-.
A check by a Phoenix News team at UTH found the protesting doctors had gathered while police are keeping vigil and monitoring the situation.
In an interview, the doctors are demanding that their president, Dr. Brian Sampa’s practicing license be reinstated and the association secretary general Dr Mukula Chikonde who was arrested on the Copperbelt be released.
The doctors have also expressed concern with delays on a concrete solution on the way forward regarding payment of their arrears, deployment of doctors and promotions.
And UTH RDAZ Branch President, Dr Zombe Mazimba says members have vowed not to resume work until their demands are met and hopes government will respond to their needs so that they report back to work as the current go slow has affected the quality of work and standard of health promotion in Zambia.
But Ministry of Labour and Social Security Permanent Secretary Chanda Kaziya has justified the arrest of protesting Resident Doctors Association of Zambia- members.
This follows the arrest of association general secretary general Chikonde Mukula and a warning by the inspector-general of police Kakoma Kanganja that RDAZ President Brian Sampa risks being arrested if he continues to disregard the Health Professional Council of Zambia conditions of his suspension.
Speaking when he featured on Phoenix FM’s Good Morning Zambia breakfast show, Mr. Kaziya says it is wrong for doctors to take such actions because they are essential workers who need to do things in the right manner adding that what is occurring is professional misconduct and should not be tolerated.
Mr. Kaziya has urged the protesting doctors to use the right procedure and follow the Labour law despite their grievances being genuine.
Meanwhile, the opposition UPND is demanding for the immediate, unconditional release of all doctors currently being held hostage by the police, merely for speaking up for their members and demanding that government honors its obligation to discharge salary arrears, allowances and put more doctors on the job.
UPND Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Bwalya is concerned over the alleged systematic terrorizing of citizens for political reasons which he says must come to an end.
PHOENIX NEWS
