By RABECCA CHIPANTA –
DOCTORS in Ndola have defied their national leadership’s call not to go on a sit-in protest and wait for dialogue with Government over their grievances.
The Resident Doctors Association of Zambia (RDAZ) Ndola branch has written to Government informing them of their planned 14-day sit-in protest.
In a letter obtained by the Times, addressed to Ndola Central Hospital senior medical superintendent, the doctors convened a meeting between December, 12 and 14, 2016 the members collectively assented by way of ballot to sit in protest.
The letter stated that the members had agreed to a sit-in protest for a period of 14 days during which certain demands should be met by Government.
The doctors are demanding among other things settling outstanding salary arrears, payment of their settling allowances and rectification of their salary scale between J and K.
“This comes as a result of our employers’ failure to honour a collective agreement following a prolonged period ofdialogue. You are hereby given 10 days prior to notification to commencement of the sit in protest,” the letter read in part.
Earlier this week, RDAZ national president Francis Mupeta appealed to the Government to urgently look into the members’ concerns as they were valid.
This was after doctors at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) had planned to go on a sit in protest which did not take place.
Dr  Mupeta said he expected the members to adhere to the national executive’s advice on dialogue, and was optimistic that the Government would respond positively.
He said that there was need for the Doctors to realise that the leadership was at a national level and all members were obliged to go by what the national executive proposed.
He added that they had not reached a situation whereby Government had refused to meet and address the concerns that had been raised.