New Wave Of Brain Drain: 21 Professors Leave Cut

A total of 21 professors and other support staff left Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) in one academic year, a development dubbed a new wave of brain drain.

CUT vice-chancellor, David Jambgwa Simbi said six professors, four Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) holders and other academic support staff had left for greener pastures despite an insignificant increase in salaries and allowances by the government. Simbi said:

The university is grateful to the government for the salary adjustments effected during the course of the year.

Unfortunately, several academic and support staff had already bolted away. The institution lost six professors, four PhD holders and several academics to make a total of 21 in the course of the academic year, this is a big dent chancellor.

Simbi made the remarks while addressing 2 436 graduands and other dignitaries during CUT’s 17th graduation ceremony held Friday by the institution’s Chancellor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Vice-chancellor Simbi lamented professors and other experienced tutors even shunned working part-time at CUT due to its remote location.

He called for an improvement of lecturers’ salaries and working conditions to compete with regional universities and colleges.

Another brain drain was witnessed at the turn of the millennium when Zimbabwe’s economy plunged due to a number of factors including poor government policies.

In recent years, workers have been embarking on industrial action to force the government to increase their salaries and improve their working conditions.

Thousands have decided to leave the Southern African country for greener pastures abroad.

More: NewZimbabwe