The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) has dismissed four prominent leaders of the ongoing lecturers’ strike, which has now stretched into its 71st day with no resolution in sight. The strike, organised by the Association of University Teachers (AUT), is centered on a demand for a significant salary increase — from the current US$230 per month to US$2,250 — a figure the lecturers argue reflects their qualifications, workload, and Zimbabwe’s rising cost of living.
The four dismissed leaders include AUT President Munyaradzi Chamburuka, Secretary-General Bornface Mwakorera, Organising Secretary Justin Tandire, and Spokesperson Obvious Vengeyi. Their termination has sparked outrage within the academic community and heightened tensions between university management and striking staff.
According to Vengeyi, the grounds for dismissal were framed around allegations that the AUT leadership used the university’s Great Hall without formal authorisation. However, he insists the accusations are both unfounded and misleading.
“We were suspended on May 6 and later subjected to disciplinary hearings. Now we’ve received our official dismissal letters, dated from the day of our suspension,” said Vengeyi. “But the claims are dishonest. We had formally written to the university registrar on March 28 seeking permission to use the Great Hall for a ballot on April 2. Though no response came, the university allowed us access on the day and even provided a legal officer and security personnel to monitor the process.”
Despite the institution’s cooperation at the time of the event, Vengeyi said the university turned around two days later and accused them of unauthorised use of the venue. “This clearly indicates a targeted move to eliminate those leading the strike,” he argued.
University of Zimbabwe Fires Four Key Leaders of 71-Day Lecturers’ Strike Amid Wage Dispute
The dismissed AUT leaders remain defiant, declaring that their removal from university employment will not deter them from continuing their industrial action and advocating for better working conditions. “We are still members of AUT. Our commitment to the strike remains unwavering. With guidance from our legal team, we are pursuing remedies through the courts. We saw this coming — the university charged us under Schedule D, which allows dismissal on the first offence, even though the justification is flimsy,” Vengeyi said.
The University of Zimbabwe, one of the country’s premier institutions of higher learning, has been severely affected by the prolonged work stoppage. Lectures have ground to a halt in multiple faculties, research activities have stalled, and students face growing uncertainty about their academic future. Final-year students, in particular, are in limbo as graduation timelines are now at risk.
AUT has remained firm in its demand for a fair and livable salary, stating that the current remuneration is not only unsustainable but insulting to the dignity of highly trained professionals. The union argues that while inflation continues to erode the value of local currency earnings, the lecturers’ pay, pegged at just US$230 per month, has remained stagnant — an amount far below the poverty datum line.
University authorities have so far remained tight-lipped on the details of the dismissals and have not issued a public statement responding to the AUT’s allegations. However, insiders suggest the administration is attempting to regain control and break the momentum of the strike by targeting its most vocal leaders.
The broader academic community, including other public universities, is watching the developments at UZ closely. Solidarity statements have begun circulating among staff at other institutions, with some unions warning that similar action could spill over if authorities do not engage lecturers in good faith.
Education and labour analysts warn that the dismissals may worsen the crisis rather than resolve it. “This kind of reactionary management only fuels further confrontation,” said Dr. Tendai Nyamadzawo, an independent education policy expert. “What is needed now is mediation, constructive dialogue, and respect for labour rights, not threats and punitive action.”
Meanwhile, students have expressed mixed reactions. Some have voiced frustration with the ongoing strike, worried about delays to their academic progress, while others have expressed sympathy for the lecturers’ plight. “We want to be back in class, yes,” said a third-year law student. “But we also want our lecturers to earn decent wages. Firing them won’t fix anything.”
As the strike continues into its third month, calls are growing for the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education to intervene and facilitate negotiations. Whether the government steps in or the courts provide relief for the dismissed lecturers, one thing remains clear: the impasse at the University of Zimbabwe is far from over, and its consequences are being felt well beyond the campus gates.
Source- Bulawayo24
