Lecturers at state universities are demanding salary
reviews that could push their monthly income up to as much as $37 000, it has
been revealed.
According to a letter written by the Zimbabwe State
Universities Union of Academics (ZSUA) to Higher and Tertiary Education
minister Amon Murwira, the academics want the least paid lecturer to earn $25 770.
ZSUA is demanding a monthly salary of $37 311 for
professors.
“The state universities’ current position for the mid-term
2019 salary review is to achieve 100% equivalent of the regional universities
average salaries coupled with 5,5% inflation
level,” reads the letter seen by The Standard.
“As before, our justification for payment of salaries
commensurate to those obtaining in the region is that this would arrest the
brain drain and attract staff.
“More so, this would maintain the purchasing value of our
salaries.”
Non-teaching staff have also tabled their own demands with
technicians indicating that they expect salaries of at least $19 952 while
cleaners want $3 622.
The lecturers also want the government to provide
additional non-monetary benefits for staff.
“Benefits that are provided to staff alongside salaries are
important elements of the overall compensation package provided,” the letter
added.
“The Zimbabwe State Universities Union of Academics’
proposal strongly recommends the following associated benefits… housing scheme;
duty-free car imports scheme; contact and
sabbatical leaves (and) cash in-lieu of leave.”
The demands followed a government decision to raise
salaries of employees at state universities, which saw the salaries of teaching
assistants, assistant lecturers, and administration assistants going up to $3 270, up from $1 890.
Lecturers will now earn about $4 827 from $2 790. Executive
deans, professors and deans will earn $6 606, up from $3 980.
Cleaners, who used to earn about $618 per month, will now
be paid $1 106 and kitchen porters, who used to earn about $701, will now earn
$1 256. Standard
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