The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) has requested a meeting with the government regarding the ongoing lecturers’ strike at the University of Zimbabwe, which has now stretched beyond 40 days.
In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, ZINASU Secretary General Devine Nyakudya said that the continued impasse between the university and its striking academic staff has disrupted learning and students suffer the most. The letter reads:
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.
Despite the university administration’s claim that ‘it is business as usual’, students have not received academic services for over three weeks, despite paying their tuition fees.
Nyakudya called on the government and UZ to sort out the lecturers’ salary issues as a matter of urgency. He wrote:
The high tuition costs are already a burden for many students, and the lack of academic services exacerbates the situation.
We believe that the university’s failure to address the needs of both students and lecturers has led to this impasse.
A demotivated lecturer cannot provide quality education, and it is essential that their concerns are addressed.
UZ lecturers are on strike, demanding salaries of US$2,500, which has already led to exams being suspended. Upcoming sittings could also be put on hold, throwing the academic year even further off track.
More: NewZimbabwe.com
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