Strike Shutter Main University of Zimbabwe | world News
Harare: More than 100 lecturers and teaching staff on Tuesday selected to withdraw the five -week wage strike at the main university of Zimbabwe, which has already forced to cancel the examination.Lecturers at the University of Zimbabwe reduced the equipment on 16 April to demand an increase in salary from $ 230 (US dollars) to $ 2,500 per month, the amount that they were last paid before a massive currency change and devaluation in 2018.Since the indefinite strike began, Zimbabwe National Students Union Students joined the staff in the third picket outside the university at Central Harare.There have been no classes since the action started and the students were unable to write the exam two weeks ago, the Representative of the Association of University Teachers (Auto) said clear Vengi.“The administration suspended five of the auto leaders, expecting the strike to stop, but unfortunately they added fuel to the fire,” they told the AFP on the occasion of the performance.“If they do not address our demands, this university will first close its doors as it was opened in 1952,” Vengi said.Auto said that the university appoints about 1,200 lecturers and other teaching staff but only 17 were working.Earlier this month, six students were arrested and accused of protesting in support of teachers.Student leader Darlington Chingvena told AFP, “We have realized that lecturers are the cornerstone of our education, so their misconduct means that there can be no progress in this university.”Lecturers are demanding their monthly salary, which can be estimated at $ 2,500, which they say is at a conducive with other regional higher education institutions.In 2019, the salary was devalued after shifting to a local Ardh-Mudra known as RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) from US Dollar to a local semi-currency.It was replaced by a new gold-supported currency in April 2024 with the aim of dealing with sky-high inflation and stabilizing the country’s long-widening economy. According to a document viewed by the AFP, the university – which allegedly has around 18,000 students – said that last week it would replace striking employees with temporary fare.Str/BR/Ho/GIV
