11 Nurses Arrested in Marondera Over Demonstrations
Eleven nurses at Marondera Provincial Hospital were arrested and fined US$30 each after allegedly attempting to stage a protest over poor working conditions and low salaries.
The arrests come amid a wave of demonstrations by nurses across the country, which began at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital and spread to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Chitungwiza Central Hospital and Bindura Provincial Hospital.
Police in Marondera intervened, citing that the demonstration had not been formally registered in accordance with the country’s laws governing public gatherings.
In a statement posted on X, the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) said the attempted demonstration was foiled by police on March 25.
“THE Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) swiftly intervened yesterday after 11 nurses were arrested at Marondera Provincial Hospital for allegedly attempting to stage a demonstration over poor working conditions and salaries.
“The nurses, who had gathered on 25 March 2026 to discuss their concerns, were surrounded by police and detained at Marondera Police Station. Following the intervention, the Association dispatched its lawyer, who successfully secured their release,” said ZINA.
The association said it paid the fines on behalf of the nurses.
“The nurses were each fined $30 for public nuisance, with the fines paid by the association.
“This incident underscores rising tensions within the health sector, as nurses continue to push for better working conditions, fair treatment, and meaningful engagement with authorities,” ZINA said.
ZINA Secretary General Chiedza Mukwekwezeke said the association is hoping government will address the nurses’ concerns.
“Then we also have recently nurses at Marondera Provincial Hospital who have been trying to convene a meeting and unfortunately they were arrested and detained at the central police station in Marondera and they however have been released with the assistance of the Zimbabwe Nurses Association. So this is all that is happening currently and we are hopeful that the government is also going to do something in that regard and also hear the plight of the nurses,” she said.
Mukwekwezeke said rising costs of living have left nurses struggling to cope, forcing them to resort to demonstrations.
“I’m sure you’ve been seeing what has been going on around the country. We have had a lot of demonstrations going on, mostly it started with the central hospitals and then it cascaded to other hospitals, provincial and to some extent some other district hospital also had these kind of demonstrations.
“It’s very true, the nurses are struggling and considering the current situation that has been happening in the country, we have had fewer increases and a lot of other commodities have also increased and it has become unbearable for the nurses and they cannot afford to come to work anymore.
“And it’s very true, they’re struggling, they’re actually trying, the nurses are very passionate and they would love to work but now the situation has actually put them in a corner and they cannot even provide the care that they have promised to give because the situation in the country is not allowing them,” she said.
She also criticised what she described as unfulfilled promises from government during negotiations.
“We have also tried to knock at several doors, even in the beginning of the year and nothing has materialised from the negotiations that we have done.
“It’s a promise after promise and nothing has materialised. So it’s unfortunate that things took a turn to this direction but actually I think it’s also a way to be heard. The nurses are just asking to be heard and there’s nothing more, there’s nothing political about what they are doing, they’re just asking to be heard,” Mukwekwezeke said.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has indicated that government will review civil servants’ salaries by April 1.
Health Times
