Volunteer Doctors to Down Tools on 19 December, Says RDAZ
The Resident Doctors Association of Zambia (RDAZ) has announced that volunteer doctors nationwide will down tools effective Friday, 19 December 2025, citing unfulfilled government assurances on the long-awaited 2025 recruitment exercise.
In a strongly worded statement, RDAZ President Dr Paul Chibwe said the decision follows months of silence from authorities despite earlier commitments made by both the Ministry of Health and the Republican President.
Dr Chibwe recalled that earlier this year, after unemployed health workers halted service delivery, the Government reassured the nation that recruitment of doctors and other health staff would be completed within 2025. Volunteer doctors subsequently returned to their posts “out of deep loyalty to the Zambian people”, even though working conditions had not improved.
However, with only 23 days left in the year, Dr Chibwe said there has been “no roadmap, no communication and no indication” that the promise will be honoured.
“This silence has become a source of emotional and professional injury, not only to those who returned out of hope, but also to patients who rely on them for care,” Dr Chibwe stated.
RDAZ said volunteer doctors have worked tirelessly, often without pay and under severe strain yet remain in limbo regarding their professional future. The Association stressed that it “cannot remain indifferent to their struggle”.
“This decision is not a strike against the nation; it is a cry for dignity, for clarity and for fairness,” Dr Chibwe said. “No health system can thrive on unpaid labour. No professional can continue indefinitely without security, recognition or a future.”
The Association has advised all health facilities to adjust duty rosters and staffing schedules in preparation for the withdrawal to minimise disruptions in service delivery.
Addressing the public, RDAZ appealed for understanding, noting that volunteer doctors have continued providing compassionate care to families across the country despite having no salaries or job security.
Dr Chibwe emphasised that RDAZ bears a moral responsibility to advocate for doctors who lack stability, adding that their “pain is real, their disappointment justified and their need for answers urgent”.
The Association has called on relevant authorities to provide immediate communication, clear timelines and a definitive recruitment plan, warning that urgent engagement is essential to safeguard both health workers and the future of Zambia’s healthcare system.
RDAZ reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, integrity and the welfare of citizens, urging speedy resolution to prevent further strain on already stretched public health facilities.
