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Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Strike shutters Zimbabwe's main university
Representative Image HARARE: More than 100 lecturers and teaching staff picketed at Zimbabwe's main university Tuesday to back a five-week wage strike that has already forced the cancellation of exams. Lecturers at the University of Zimbabwe downed tools on April 16 to demand an increase in salary from $230 (US dollars) to $2,500 per month, the amount they were last paid back in 2018 before a massive currency change and devaluation. Zimbabwe National Students Union students joined the staff at the third picket outside the university in central Harare since the indefinite strike began. There have been no classes since the action started and students were unable to write exams due two weeks ago, Association of University Teachers (AUT) representative Obvious Vengeyi said. "The administration suspended five of AUT leaders hoping the strike will go off but unfortunately they have added fuel to the fire," he told AFP on the sidelines of the demonstration. "If they do not address our demands, this university will close its doors for the first time since it was opened in 1952," Vengeyi said. The AUT said the university employs about 1,200 lecturers and other teaching staff but only 17 were working. Earlier this month, six students were arrested and charged for protesting in support of the teachers. "We have realised that the lecturers are the cornerstone of our education so their mistreatment means that there is no progress that can happen at this university," student leader Darlington Chingwena told AFP. Lecturers are demanding their monthly salaries be pegged at $2,500, which they say is on par with other regional higher education institutions. Salaries were devalued after Zimbabwe shifted from the US dollar in 2019 to a local quasi-currency known as the RTGS (real time gross settlement). It was replaced by a new gold-backed currency launched in April 2024 with the aim of tackling sky-high inflation and stabilising the country's long-floundering economy. According to a document seen by AFP, the university -- which reportedly has around 18,000 students -- said last week it will replace the striking staff with temporary hires. str/br/ho/giv
Arabian Post
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Arabian Post
University of Zimbabwe Faces Backlash Over Meagre Pay for Replacement Lecturers
The University of Zimbabwe has sparked widespread criticism by offering adjunct lecturers a paltry US$5.50 per hour to replace striking academic staff, intensifying an ongoing labour dispute that has disrupted operations at the country's premier higher education institution. Lecturers, represented by the Association of University Teachers , initiated an indefinite strike on 16 April, demanding a return to pre-2018 salary levels of US$2,250 per month for junior faculty. Currently, most earn less than US$300, supplemented by a Zimbabwe Gold component that, when converted, amounts to under US$200—an effective 87% pay cut. The university's decision to recruit adjuncts at such low rates has been met with outrage from both academic and student communities. AUT leaders argue that the move undermines the quality of education and reflects a disregard for the welfare of educators. 'We have subsidised this university for more than seven years,' said AUT spokesperson Professor Obvious Vengeyi. 'On the contrary, they have plundered it.' ADVERTISEMENT The strike has led to significant disruptions, with many classes suspended and students expressing concern over the continuity of their education. Tafadzwa Katsande, a representative from the Zimbabwe National Student Union , voiced solidarity with the lecturers, stating, 'We understand your plight better because we are your children before you are our lecturers. Even if we don't attend classes for the whole semester, let it be so.' The government's response has been mixed. Presidential Spokesperson George Charamba acknowledged the legitimacy of the lecturers' grievances, noting that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had approved a welfare proposal to address the issues. However, implementation has been delayed, leading to further frustration among the academic staff. In an attempt to quell the unrest, UZ suspended several AUT leaders, including President Phillemon Munyaradzi Chamburuka and Treasurer Obvious Vengeyi, citing charges of inciting unrest. These suspensions were later revoked following legal challenges and public outcry. Vengeyi commented on the revocation, suggesting it was a tactic to distract from the core issue of fair remuneration. The situation escalated when police arrested three lecturers during a peaceful protest at the university's main entrance. Those detained included Professor Vengeyi, Dr Desmond Ndedzu, and Group Captain Boncase Mwakorera. The arrests drew condemnation from various quarters, with critics accusing authorities of suppressing lawful demonstrations. Despite these challenges, the AUT remains steadfast in its demands. Lecturers have withdrawn not only their teaching services but also their participation in research and administrative duties. They have also ceased using personal resources, such as laptops and mobile data, for university-related work. The broader economic context in Zimbabwe, marked by hyperinflation and currency instability, has exacerbated the crisis. Many lecturers report struggling to afford basic necessities, with some unable to pay for their children's education or meet daily living expenses. The AUT has highlighted these hardships in communications with university management, emphasizing the urgent need for salary adjustments.
