By Panashe Kaseke
Fadzai Mahere, a former MP, criticizes the University of Zimbabwe’s decision to pay lecturers very low wages, making it hard for them to afford basic necessities. This comes amid the country’s ongoing economic crisis. According to reports, lecturers are being paid US$2.50 per hour, which is lower than the minimum wage for unskilled workers.
Mahere described the lecturers’ earnings as “slave wages”.
“At US$2.50 an hour, a lecturer can barely afford their kombi fare to and from work. You would have to work over 320 hours just to send your child to university to take your own classes,” Mahere lamented. “Forget about shelter, decent clothes or feeding your family. This amount is less than the gazetted minimum wage of an unskilled worker.
“Why would you bother wasting your time with postgraduate study, building professional experience and mastering the ability to instruct learners on complex principles of at the end, they spit on your face with a circular like this?”
In another post on X, the former MP called for urgent intervention, stating that the current situation is not only detrimental to the lecturers but also to the quality of education at the university. She urged the government and university authorities to prioritize the welfare of lecturers and ensure they receive fair compensation for their work.
“I have been a Law lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe. It was one of the most gratifying career choices I have ever made and I’m still reaping the benefits today.
“For the life of me, I cannot see how any institution can put on paper that that work is worth US$2.50 and hour. That cannot be defended. It is not right.”
“Respect academia,” she added.
Mahere’s comments have sparked a debate on social media, with many expressing solidarity with the lecturers and calling for action to address their plight. As Zimbabwe continues to grapple with economic challenges, the issue of fair wages for educators has become increasingly important, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions to support the country’s education sector.
