By Derick Tsimba

Over 300 striking doctors are up in arms against Human Rights Lawyer, Doug Coltart and Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) Spokesperson, Masimba Ndoro over embezzlement of close to USD$ 20 000.

The embezzled funds were donated as payment to the striking doctors by their handlers after government stopped to pay them for not reporting for duty.

According to well-placed sources, Director of  Human Rights Watch for Southern Africa Region, Dewa Mavhinga sourced a lump sum of US dollars from a third force which is funding the doctors’ strike.

The source revealed to The Harare Post that Mavhinga received USD$50 000 from the US Embassy.

Mavhinga is said to have handed over USD$31 800 to Doug Coltart who later on proceeded to give USD$ 23 500 to Ndoro. Ndoro in turn surrendered USD$ 19 300 which is expected to be shared amongst the 300 affected doctors. About 50 Doctors got the wind of the embezzlement and have since raised alarm with the primary source of the funds believed to be the US embassy.

The strike by doctors has entered day 50 with the situation at hospitals across the country continuing to deteriorate. People are dying on daily basis following the heartless actions by the doctors.

At Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo, 142 out of 203 are reporting for work, at United Bulawayo Hospital 152 out 206 are reporting for work.

In Harare, doctors who are going to work are as follows, Parirenyatwa Hospital 56 out of 148, Harare Central Hospital 44 out of 135, Chitungwiza 5 out of 39. At Mutare Provincial Hospital 15 out of 21 Doctors are attending patients. At Marondera Provincial Hospital 5 out of 16 Doctors are at work.