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Auxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
LECTURERS at the country’s state universities have vowed to continue with their strike despite government having deposited their salaries yesterday.The lecturers and non-teaching staff yesterday said they would not report for duty until government paid their bonuses as well.
They said they remained “incapacitated” even after getting their salaries.
Higher and Tertiary Education Deputy Minister Godfrey Gandawa confirmed his ministry had deposited the salaries.
“We’ve paid the lecturers. The money has been deposited into their accounts and it would be reflecting either today (yesterday) or tomorrow morning (today). We have paid January salaries and we are still mobilising funds for the bonuses,” said Deputy Minister Gandawa.
The lecturers and non-teaching staff resolved to down tools on Tuesday as they had not received last year’s bonuses and January salaries.
Zimbabwe State Universities Union of Academics (ZISUUA) national president, Alois Muzvuwe who is lecturers’ representative said lecturers would not report for duty until their bonuses were paid.
“We’re still very much incapacitated. No statement has come from the ministry and it is a cause for concern. We are sticking to what we agreed yesterday: no salary, no bonus, no lectures,” said Muzvuwe.
Lecturers who spoke to The Chronicle said they were still bound by the resolutions made by the executive on Tuesday.
“As per agreement we’re not going back to work, we will only go back after our demands have been met in full. We must get both bonuses and salaries first then we can go back to work,” said a lecturer who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The lecturer said they were in debt because they borrowed heavily in December, expecting to offset their debts with the bonus payment.
“Most lecturers are swimming in debt as they had to send their children to school in January anticipating that they would get their salaries and pay up but 11 days into February we hadn’t been paid,” said the lecturer.
Another lecturer accused the government of sidelining them.
“We’re the only civil servants that haven’t received bonuses and this shows that there are other superior employees than others. Honestly, do we need to go on strike to get a bonus?,” lamented the lecturer.
Non-teaching staff national representative Ready-Forward Dube confirmed that the salaries had been deposited but said the workers were still incapacitated to go to work.
“The money is reflecting in people’s accounts but there’s no bonus. It’s the January salary but the staff is still incapacitated because it’s not enough. The government has said they are still looking for funds,” said Dube.
In a letter addressed to all chairpersons of State councils and the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and technology Development on Tuesday, the lecturers and teaching staff said: “Zimbabwe State university workers are incapacitated to report for their normal duties with immediate effect. In the future, the workers will not report for duty if their salaries are not paid by the end of each and every month. The government or employer must pay our 2014 bonuses forthwith.”
The lecturers and non-teaching staff also demanded a fixed pay date from their employer.
“As State universities, we demand a fixed pay date, as it is the case with all the other government-funded institutions and to seek an audience with the Chancellor, His Excellency Cde R.G Mugabe,” read the letter.
The countrywide job action has resulted in the suspension of lectures at Nust, Bindura, University of Zimbabwe, Lupane, Gwanda, Great Zimbabwe and Chinhoyi State universities.
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