By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Three lecturers from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) were arrested on Wednesday while staging a protest on campus demanding better remuneration and working conditions. The protest, organized by the Association of University Teachers (AUT), was part of a broader strike initiated earlier that morning.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) intervened during the demonstration and apprehended the union leaders, drawing condemnation from AUT officials. In an interview with the press, AUT president Philemon Chamburuka confirmed the arrests and expressed indignation at the treatment of his colleagues.
“The status quo is that the strike is ongoing. As of now, we are encouraging our members not to report for duty. We are not intimidated. We are infuriated by the arrests of our colleagues,” Chamburuka stated.
The current salary for UZ lecturers is approximately US$250 and ZiG 6,000 per month, which the AUT claims has diminished in purchasing power due to Zimbabwe’s deteriorating economic conditions. The union is demanding a minimum monthly salary of US$2,500, aligning with remuneration standards in neighboring countries.
Additionally, university staff are reportedly burdened with the expense of providing their own teaching tools, such as laptops, smartphones, and internet data, exacerbating financial strain on their already limited incomes.
In a strongly worded letter to the UZ administration and copied to the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, the AUT criticized both the government and university authorities for failing to engage in meaningful negotiations for the past 18 months.
“Despite prolonged engagement, the employer and the minister have failed to meet AUT’s demands or provide any reasonable alternative offer, leading to the issuance of a Certificate of No Settlement,” the letter stated.
The AUT highlighted the severe financial hardship experienced by lecturers and their families, describing their conditions as extreme poverty, and criticized the expectation for professors to subsidize their work through personal resources.
Referencing Sections 104(2) of the Labour Act and 65(3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the union justified the collective job action as a pursuit of economic justice and dignity.
With the strike ongoing, UZ has not yet provided an official response regarding the arrests or the demands put forth by the AUT. This latest development adds to the growing list of labor disputes within Zimbabwe’s public education sector, where inflation, currency instability, and chronic underfunding have left many educators struggling to sustain themselves.
The AUT has pledged to continue the strike until their demands are met, undeterred by what they view as intimidation tactics employed by authorities.