Stop threatening doctors, employ them – Mwamba tells PS

Doctors: file photo for illustration purpose only

Opposition Tonse Alliance Deputy Spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba has called on Health Permanent Secretary (PS) George Sinyangwe to employee Doctors and stop issuing unnecessary threats.

Sinyangwe has threatened to discipline Resident Doctors Association of Zambia ( RDAZ) President, Dr. Paul Chibwe for communicating the intention of unemployed doctors to stop volunteering their services.

In a letter dated 3rd June 2025, PS Sinyangwe is accusing Dr. Chibwe of encouraging disruption of government service and ckaiming that he is liable for discipline.

But Mwamba a former Ambassador and Permanent Secretary has described the action as absurd.

Mwamba said:

This is absurd. The volunteer doctors are not employed by Government. Dr. Chibwe merely communicated the status, concerns and position of the section of his members.

Further Government is now relying on the free services of volunteer doctors to run clinics, health centres and hospitals so much so that the withdrawal of services will disrupt normal flow and normal running of these facilities.

PS Sinyangwe and Local Government PS Nicholas Phiri have been at the forefront of defending the corrupt purchase of $13million ambulances and chaos at ZMMSA. If he applied similar energy to the cause of doctors, the doctors would have been employed.

Stop issuing threats and work-out mechanisms to employ the doctors. Isnt it already a big shame, that a country with such a poor doctor/patient ratio should have unemployed doctors?

#doctor #healthcare #Zambia

#ZambianEye.