NUST POLITICS TO ATTACHMENT TIMES 2015-16: Zimbabwe Universities shut down as 10,000 workers down tools

More than 10,00 workers in Zimbabwe's state Universities downed their tools and stayed at home following the government's failure to pay them their February salaries and outstanding 2014 bonuses.

When interviewed the president of the Zimbabwe Universities and Allied Workers Union, Readforward Dube told VOA Studio7 ,

that all academic staff have since withdrew their services early this morning, forcing the Universities to ground to a halt.

Dube added taht they will only resume work if their grievances are met though government officials had informed them that the country does not have the funds to pay them.

Senior officials at several state universities refused to comment and reffered all questions to the ministry of higher education and finance.

Midlands State University lectures have embarked on an industrial action, livid about late payment of February salaries.

The lectures downed their tools on monday following the meeting held at NUST campus last Friday where they came up with a resolution that they will not report for duty until their salaries reflect on their bank balances.

Lecturers and all non-academic staff at NUST went on a strike on Tuesday demanding that the government pays them all their outstanding salaries.

This decision was announced at the meeting addressed by the Nust Educators Association (Nusteda) at the university main campus.

One lecturer was heard saying " If the government does not take immediate action, the situation is likely to spread to other universities as the state battles to keep the economy afloat."

Workers said they were disgruntled by the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) Vice chancellor, Rugare Zvogbo and his administration for ignoring their plight.

However, the situation is not very bad and we hope the government works something out soon because as the Nust Student President there is nothing much I can do, added Shadowlit Ndou.

“How can the university prioritise buying buildings in the city to turn into learning rooms while the workers are not being paid?”

The future of a learned Zimbabwe is not certain as nothing has been communicated to the lecturers or students.