Students petition govt over striking lecturers

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) has formally petitioned the government to intervene in the ongoing standoff between University of Zimbabwe (UZ) lecturers and the institution's administration, a dispute that has severely disrupted academic activities.

Lecturers at the country's premier institution of higher learning downed tools last month, citing the university's failure to address long-standing demands for salary reviews  -  grievances they claim have been ignored for the past seven years.

As tensions have escalated, the university authorities have responded by suspending some striking lecturers and initiating disciplinary proceedings. In a controversial move, the institution has also resorted to recruiting adjunct lecturers in an attempt to fill the academic vacuum left by the protest.

In a letter dated May 28, 2025, addressed to the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Zinasu secretary-general Emmanuel Devine Nyakudya expressed grave concern over the deteriorating situation at UZ and called for urgent intervention.

"We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the ongoing strike by university lecturers at the University of Zimbabwe, which has resulted in significant losses for students," Nyakudya stated.

He criticised the university administration's claims that "it is business as usual," saying students have been deprived of academic services for more than three weeks despite having paid their tuition fees in full.

"The high tuition costs are already a burden for many students, and the absence of academic services only worsens the situation. A demotivated lecturer cannot provide quality education, and it is essential that their concerns are addressed," he said.

Zinasu also revealed that attempts to engage the university administration had failed, with student concerns reportedly dismissed. The student union is now seeking direct dialogue with the ministry.

"We have tried to engage with the university authorities, but our concerns have been dismissed. Therefore, we request a meeting with your ministry to discuss the lost academic time, high tuition costs, quality of education, and the importance of motivated lecturers," Nyakudya added.

The ongoing impasse has raised alarm over the state of tertiary education in Zimbabwe, with stakeholders urging the government to act swiftly to prevent further damage to students' academic futures.

The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education is yet to publicly respond to the students' request.