Two lecturers fired as Masvingo State University closed down

By Tererai Karimakwenda
25 April, 2007

The state controlled newspaper The Herald reported that 2 lecturers were fired and 2 student leaders were dismissed at Masvingo State University on Tuesday as the government shut down the institution indefinitely. The action by the authorities followed a strike by lecturers demanding a 200 percent hike on their salaries. Takavafira Zhou, president of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), was one of the lecturers that were fired. He said the officials accused him of organising the strike action.

Lecturers currently earn about Z$1.3 million per month and are asking for an increase to Z$3.7 million per month, which lecturers at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare are making. The strike was initiated after negotiations on Monday failed to yield any results. The issue for students is an attempt by the university to increase boarding fees from Z$345 000 to Z$800 000 per semester. The current fee is already unaffordable for most students. And any increases would force even more to drop out of school.

Zhou and the PTUZ expressed shock that the Masvingo State Vice-Chancellor Obert Maravanyika was given a posh Mercedes Benz while the university claims it has no money. Lecturers say the strike will go on and the institution will remain closed indefinitely until all issues are addressed.