The University of Zimbabwe Association of University Teachers (AUT) has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the government and the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), threatening to escalate industrial action to all 14 state universities if their demands over poor salaries are not addressed.
Lecturers are demanding a return to their pre-October 2018 salary structure, where a junior lecturer earned US$2,250, compared to the current US$230.
Speaking at a protest outside the UZ campus, union legal advisor and senior labour law lecturer, Munyaradzi Gwisai, directly called on Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Fredrick Shava, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, and Treasury Permanent Secretary George Guvamatanga to act immediately.
“Dr. Shava, the choice is yours,” Gwisai declared. “If you fail to resolve our grievances, we will expand this struggle to all 14 state universities within the next ten days.” His statement was met with cheers from gathered protesters.
Gwisai urged lecturers to withdraw all services, including examination marking, until their salaries are reviewed, saying, “We must ensure that no examination paper is marked and no examination board sits from today onwards.”
AUT spokesperson, Professor Obvious Vengeyi, criticized the UZ administration, describing it as “arrogant” and “disconnected” from the hardships faced by lecturers.
“They ignore our letters, they flaunt luxury cars, yet they leave lecturers to suffer,” Vengeyi said. “Since 2018, we have written over 40 letters. Only two were acknowledged.”
Vengeyi accused administrators of ignoring the realities faced by academic staff and emphasized that the profession deserves dignity and fair compensation.
Last week, Vengeyi and several colleagues were arrested for protesting against poor wages but were released after paying US$15 fines. Meanwhile, the High Court of Zimbabwe has issued an interdict preventing the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and UZ authorities from interfering with lecturers’ protests.
Lecturers have vowed to continue demonstrating indefinitely until their demands are met. Protests are scheduled to continue outside UZ premises on Friday.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.