Striking UZ lecturers make fresh demands

Lecturers at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) who have been on strike for 70 days have revised their demands, issuing an ultimatum to the university to provide incentives as a step towards ending their prolonged industrial action.

The academic staff have been striking for three months, demanding a salary increase from their current US$230 to US$2,250, seeking what they describe as regional parity with pre-October 2018 wages.

The lecturers have refused to supervise ongoing examinations and continue to picket outside the university premises.

Association of University Teachers (AUT) spokesperson Obvious Vengeyi explained that the revised demands include non-monetary incentives, offering the government flexibility to explore alternative solutions while negotiations for the full salary adjustment continue.

"We have put across our demand for salaries. We are demanding regional parity, which is the pre-October 2018 salary. We have added non-monetary incentives in case the government cannot provide the US$2,250 immediately," said Vengeyi.

He added that the lecturers propose a roadmap where salary reviews occur every four months, aiming to reach regional parity within a year. The non-monetary incentives include residential and commercial stands, agricultural land, and free education for university employees.

"Lecturers here at the University of Zimbabwe were previously required to pay fees if they wished to further their education. We demand that all University of Zimbabwe employees be exempt from paying fees," Vengeyi emphasized.

In response to the strike, UZ has suspended striking lecturers and deployed temporary staff to oversee examinations.

The government's recent offer of a 20% salary increase was rejected by AUT as inadequate.

"The UZ has not made any response. They have not made any offer, which is why today's picketing emphasised the need for, and demand of, an offer from UZ.

"The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education has made an offer of 20% across the board and 35% to the Vice-Chancellor. The very people responsible for this mess have been rewarded, which is quite unfair.

"So, we have put forward our counter-demand in response to the ministry's offer. First and foremost, we reject this 20% as meaningless because if you give someone 20% of US$230, that is essentially nothing," said Vengeyi.

As the stalemate continues, the university and government face mounting pressure to find a sustainable solution to end the strike and restore normal academic operations.