News / Local
Nust lecturers boycott classes
03 Sep 2013 at 04:11hrs | Views
HUNDREDS of National University of Science and Technology students did not have lectures on the first day of the new academic year yesterday as a majority of the about 315 lecturers did not report for duty after failing to get their salaries on time.
The lecturers were supposed to get their salaries for August on Thursday.
An official at the university said a number of lecturers called the university saying they could not report for duty as they were running around trying to source money for their children's school fees.
A number of Nust students confirmed they did not attend lectures because there were no lecturers.
A lecturer who spoke on condition of anonymity said his children were barred from boarding a school bus because he had not paid fees.
"It was very embarrassing for me and my children. I am disappointed because my landlord, who also needed the money for rent, faced the same problem after I failed to pay him. The university keeps promising that we will get the money soon," said the lecturer.
He said he would have to find somewhere to borrow money and get private transport to send his children to school.
Contacted for comment, the National University of Science and Technology Educators Association (Nusteda), Mr Blessing Jona, confirmed the development.Nusteda is a registered trade union.
"We were told on Wednesday that the Government had released funds for the salaries from its CBZ account to the Nust account at the Metropolitan Bank. We were told to expect the money on Thursday. However, the money has still not been deposited into our accounts. I have received calls from about 30 lecturers who were saying they have failed to send their children to school and about 12 who were saying they have been given notice by their landlords.
We had the same problem last month when salaries were paid more than a week late," said Mr Jona.
He said Nusteda was engaging the university authorities to map a way forward.
Nust director of information and public relations Mr Felix Moyo said the problem was not with the university or Government but emanated from banks.
"Money was released from the Government on time and reflected at the bank where we have our account on Friday. I do not know what happened afterwards as we have been trying to get feedback from the bank. However, I hear that a number of lecturers have started receiving their money as we speak," said Mr Moyo, late yesterday afternoon.
Lecturers who have accounts at NMB, Standard Chartered and BancABC confirmed that they received their salaries yesterday evening.
The lecturers were supposed to get their salaries for August on Thursday.
An official at the university said a number of lecturers called the university saying they could not report for duty as they were running around trying to source money for their children's school fees.
A number of Nust students confirmed they did not attend lectures because there were no lecturers.
A lecturer who spoke on condition of anonymity said his children were barred from boarding a school bus because he had not paid fees.
"It was very embarrassing for me and my children. I am disappointed because my landlord, who also needed the money for rent, faced the same problem after I failed to pay him. The university keeps promising that we will get the money soon," said the lecturer.
He said he would have to find somewhere to borrow money and get private transport to send his children to school.
Contacted for comment, the National University of Science and Technology Educators Association (Nusteda), Mr Blessing Jona, confirmed the development.Nusteda is a registered trade union.
"We were told on Wednesday that the Government had released funds for the salaries from its CBZ account to the Nust account at the Metropolitan Bank. We were told to expect the money on Thursday. However, the money has still not been deposited into our accounts. I have received calls from about 30 lecturers who were saying they have failed to send their children to school and about 12 who were saying they have been given notice by their landlords.
We had the same problem last month when salaries were paid more than a week late," said Mr Jona.
He said Nusteda was engaging the university authorities to map a way forward.
Nust director of information and public relations Mr Felix Moyo said the problem was not with the university or Government but emanated from banks.
"Money was released from the Government on time and reflected at the bank where we have our account on Friday. I do not know what happened afterwards as we have been trying to get feedback from the bank. However, I hear that a number of lecturers have started receiving their money as we speak," said Mr Moyo, late yesterday afternoon.
Lecturers who have accounts at NMB, Standard Chartered and BancABC confirmed that they received their salaries yesterday evening.
Source - chronicle
