Lecturers at the University of Zimbabwe have initiated an indefinite strike starting today, demanding improved salaries amid growing discontent over compensation levels.
Junior lecturers currently earn US$250 along with a minimal amount in Zimbabwean currency the ZiG, which has been deemed insufficient by the faculty.
Munyaradzi Gwisai, legal adviser to the Association of University Teachers (AUT), confirmed the strike’s legitimacy in a statement.
“No employee can be subjected to disciplinary punishment for participating in the strike,” he stated.
He described the current salary levels as a recipe for destruction and slow death for the institution, which is the country’s oldest university.
“Only ourselves can right this grievous injustice, the AUT had meticulously followed legal procedures to ensure the strike was lawful,” Gwisai stated.
He criticized the university management’s response, calling it crude and intimidatory, and insisted that the strike was a necessary action for the dignity of the faculty, their families, their students, and for the university itself.
In response to the looming strike, the University of Zimbabwe administration suspended six AUT leaders, citing “insubordination.”
With a staff establishment of over 2,700 and a student population exceeding 11,500, the university’s declining standards have been attributed to high staff turnover and low morale, both exacerbated by inadequate remuneration.
The situation continues to unfold as lecturers advocate for fair pay and better working conditions.