Zimbabwean university students arrested amid lecturers' salary dispute
Six students from the University of Zimbabwe were arrested on Monday after staging a surprise protest over the institution's ongoing staff strike.
The students demanded immediate action to resolve the lecturers' month-long industrial action, which has stalled academic progress. University security disrupted the protest and took the students to Avondale Police Station.
The arrested students are: UZ ZINASU chairperson Narshon Kohlo, Tafadzwe Katsande, Blessing Mtis, Tawananyashe Hove, Nodesha Maingehama, and Tariro Mtukura.
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) president Narshon Kohlo described the situation at the university as unbearable, according to New Zimbabwe .
'We are here protesting against the University of Zimbabwe's Professor Paul Mapfumo and Munyaradzi Madambi, who are denying us our right to education, Kohlo said.
'We paid full tuition fees, and we expect learning services in return. In this block, we did not write exams because we did not have lectures. They are trying to act as if everything is normal when nothing is normal. It cannot be business as usual at the University of Zimbabwe until the lecturers are back. The solution is very simple: pay our lecturers. Compensate them fairly. Pay them decent salaries and decent wages.'
University of Zimbabwe lecturers are demanding that their salaries be adjusted to US$2 250 (R40 950), citing regional parity.
They've also raised concerns over 'incapacitation,' saying they're relying on personal funds to carry out academic duties.
As part of their ongoing protest, lecturers have pulled out of all official responsibilities, including invigilating and grading. Nonetheless, the university confirmed last week that exams would continue, drawing sharp criticism from students.
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