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.
 |
| Nust demonstrations picture from Nehanda radio |
