Some of the ground labourers whom Zodiak has spoken to on condition of anonymity, Thursday have accused the District's Health Office of failing to employ them permanently despite serving for a period of close to five years now.

The ground labourers have also accused the DHO of tasking them duties belonging to hospital attendants despite their salaries being on the lower side which they also say is often times delayed.

"I started working as a ground labour in 2019. Despite the hospital employing new ground laborers in 2020 and 2022, I was still not considered for the opportunity. This is despite having gained some relevant skills over the years and I am even doubling as a hospital attendant at the moment", said one of the female ground laborers on condition of anonymity.

Another female ground labourer said she cannot afford most basic necessities or even send her children to school as she is paid K30 000 per month which she said is often times delayed.

However, Spokesperson for the district's health office Dalitso Gulani said the ground labourers are given a yearly contract which may either renewed or not and that it is not possible for every temporary ground labourer to be offered permanent positions.

Gulani however conceded that the ground labourers' salaries are sometimes delayed but he said this is the case as they are paid through the district council which he said is required to be  funded first.

On them being tasked hospital attendants roles, Gulani said that only happens on interim basis.

Meanwhile, a new cadre of ground labourers and hospital attendants which the district council had employed earlier this year has been ordered to stop working after their recruitment procedures were faulted following concerns a  group of some concerned citizens in the district raised .