UNZA Lecturers Threaten Work Boycott over Delayed Salaries

The all too familiar tale of the University of Zambia lecturers threatening a boycott every other month over delayed salaries is back on the horizon with another work stoppage announcement.

UNZALARU has issued a statement urging government to release money for their salaries as management does not have enough money for salaries.

“The staff at the University of Zambia have been accustomed to neglect from the government but it appears that this neglect is now becoming an actual policy. UNZALARU members have not been paid their salaries for September and there is no indication when they will be paid,” stated UNZALARU General Secretary Kelvin Mambwe.

“This issue does not only affect government staff but all government employees. Zambia is in a difficult fiscal position, and is likely that government will introduce painful spending cuts, the kwacha will depreciate even further and that the price of essential commodities including electricity will soon increase as did fuel.”

Mambwe noted: “We note with incredulity that the salaries of the President, Secretary to the Cabinet, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, Attorney General, Solicitor General, Director of Public Prosecutions, Public Prosecutor and Permanent Secretaries were increased in August and even backdated to January this year. This is outrageous when sources of revenue are drying up and the government is failing to meet its obligations to important sectors such as education. In the past UNZALARU members have often directed their actions toward management, it is clear that it is the government at fault. We demand that the government releases the K78 million owed to UNZA to enable the university management pay salaries of our members and other employees.”