UZ students rally behind striking lecturers, reject replacement staff

Students at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) have thrown their weight behind striking lecturers, vowing to resist any attempts by university authorities to replace them with temporary staff as the salary dispute intensifies.

Lecturers at the institution have been on an indefinite strike since April 16, demanding a restoration of their pre-2018 salaries, which saw junior lecturers earning as much as US$2,250 per month. Their current pay stands at a paltry US$230, prompting widespread discontent and calls for urgent redress.

On Tuesday, striking academic staff staged their third demonstration on campus, drawing passionate support from students who decried the university's response to the industrial action. Addressing the gathering, Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) representative Darlington Chingwena condemned the administration's handling of the crisis and accused it of jeopardising the future of thousands of learners.

"Our education was stolen from us and we are going to fight and demand our right to education," Chingwena declared. "We are not going to tolerate the hiring of scabs to teach us. Our future was robbed, our future is at stake, and we are going to pursue and recover our education. No one is going to stop or threaten us, because we are even prepared to die for this thing."

The strong show of solidarity follows a controversial announcement by UZ authorities last week, indicating plans to bring in replacement lecturers on a temporary basis. These so-called "scab" lecturers would be paid just US$5.50 per hour, with 40% of that wage disbursed in local Zimbabwe Gold (ZWG) currency - a move that has only fueled student anger.

Students say the decision to hire underpaid, temporary teaching staff is not only disrespectful to the striking lecturers but also threatens the quality of education they receive. Chingwena warned that the student body will not stand idly by while their education is "commodified and destroyed."

"The idea of scabs is going to be met with fire and fury like what the world has never seen before," he said. "The students are ready, and we are not going to surrender until the right thing is done."

The strike, now in its sixth week, has brought academic activity to a standstill at Zimbabwe's premier institution of higher learning. As tensions mount, the stand-off has become emblematic of the broader struggles facing Zimbabwe's education sector, where deteriorating salaries and poor working conditions have led to repeated strikes and staff exodus.

There has been no formal response from the university regarding the latest student protests, and negotiations between the lecturers and authorities remain stalled. For now, both lecturers and students appear united in their demands  -  fair wages, quality education, and respect for academic integrity.