UZ Lecturers Declare Incapacitation Due to Deteriorating Salaries
Lecturers at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) have declared their incapacitation due to a significant decline in their salaries, which has left them struggling to make ends meet.
The Association of University Teachers (AUT), representing the academic staff at universities, recently sent a letter to the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare ministry, highlighting the dire financial situation faced by UZ lecturers.
The letter outlined the drastic decline in lecturer salaries over the past few years.
“To illustrate the situation, as of October 2018, a junior lecturer’s monthly salary was US$2 258, (“pre-October 2018 salary scales”) …,” the letter read in part.
“By September 2022, the situation had reached unconscionable levels of a salary worth less than US$200 for a junior lecturer. Such a salary was lower than the lowest paid general worker in the private sector.”
The situation further deteriorated by the beginning of 2023. The letter pointed out that the deductions for essential services like medical aid, pension, funeral policies, and motor vehicle insurance had surpassed the lecturers’ salaries.
In fact, they were now receiving what the university termed “negative salaries” as deductions exceeded their income.
The AUT expressed their disappointment in the response they received from the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
“The minister was not sympathetic and disclaimed responsibility for the welfare of employees of State universities,” AUT said.
Added AUT “He categorically stated that the responsible authorities and employers were the university councils and not the government. He stated that the government only provided a grant to assist the universities, which were expected to come up with their own other independent means of self-funding.”
High inflation rates and a weakening national currency have severely impacted the purchasing power of citizens, making it increasingly difficult for professionals across various sectors to sustain a decent standard of living.
