THE Government has said that the five per cent pay rise ceiling for University of Zambia (UNZA) workers is justified because their current salaries are higher than the public service workers who were given 15 per cent.
Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane said in an interview in Lusaka that the gap between the workers at UNZA and other public service workers was still wide and it was unjustified to expect similar increases.
“I think it is unfair for the workers at UNZA to compare themselves with the public service workers who were recently awarded 15 per cent because even if we had to increase their salaries again the gap is still wide,” he said.
Dr Muskotwane said the Government was unable to meet all demands of the workers because of the global financial crunch which had affected not only Zambia but also the world as a whole.
The university council yesterday appealed to the workers who are on go-slow at the higher institution of learning to immediately resume work to avoid premature closures.
Council chairperson, Tukiya Kankasa-Mabula, warned that keeping students for a long time without learning could agitate them and disrupt the academic calendar.
She said in the event of students getting agitated, the university council would have no option but to consider closing the institution to protect life and property.
“In the event of a closure, the university council would suffer serious financial constraints which could significantly jeopardise the operations of the university even after the impasse, ” Dr Kankasa-Mabula said.
But University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union (UNZALARU) president, Euston Chiputa said separately that for as long as their demands were not met, calling off the go-slow would not be possible.
At a Press briefing, Dr Chiputa said that the lecturers and researchers would not return to work for as long as their demands were not addressed.
Among the demands, Dr Chiputa said, were unpaid retirement benefits, baggage and passage allowances, unpaid pension subscription, unpaid contractual gratuity and unpaid leave.
He said that most lecturers and researchers experienced problems of accommodation and were denied loans.
He said members of UNZALARU did not take pleasure in disturbances that led to the closure of the university. It was for this reason that they had been calling for dialogue with the Government.
Dr Chiputa said it was regrettable that several attempts by UNZALARU to meet Secretary to the Cabinet, Joshua Kanganja, to discuss the plight of lecturers and researchers had failed.
He alleged that it was frustrating for Dr Kanganja to demand that UNZARALU should instead meet the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).
University of Zambian Students Union (UNZASU) president, Duncan Nyirongo, said although the students had so far gone for two weeks without learning, UNZASU would still ensure that peace and calm at the institution prevailed.
Mr Nyirongo said the students did not want to be blamed for causing disturbances.
[Times of Zambia]
you can not compare with what the other workers do, in this case public wokers, what matters is what one does and how good they are, so please stop wasting time cooming up with these silly comparisons and give them what they are worth period.
This is the reason most lectures leave for greener pastures. If look after them , they will do a good job,
I am number one , i am an early bird cool.
#1!!
I Agree Ba Honey they should not compare it looks like they are trying to keep people within a certain band so they keep burging or is it easier to rule them keep em poor
#4 masautso, no iam #1
5% is a slap in the face of lecturers, whether or not they are already highly paid compared to the other civil servants.
These Gov minister sometimes talk like they are sleep talking, you know when you call somebody and they answer in their sleep, this is how these so called Gov Ministers are. They need to think and come up with concrete reason for giving the pay rise %.
I also agree that Salary increaments should be done in dudunswas but to archive this there is suporsed to be a proper layed down structure which should review wages every Nth period on time ie 2-4 years. This can avoid institutions taking advantage of government to demand at times when they are most exposed as failing to deliver.
This pipo in govt are a curse to the nation mwandini,I really dont understand why the dont appreciate the services rendered by some of the civil servants like Teachers,nurses,Doctors,the Defence force and Lecturers.Coz for them and their families to be in good healthy is coz on Nurses and Docs,for them to have those credentials is because of teachers and Lecturers,for them to continue enjoying peace its coz of pipo in the defence force,but why do they find it difficulty to offer a token of appreciation to men and women who work day and night trying to make their livelihood great? Guys in Govt learn to appreciate.
These Fat Cats are only thinking about them selves, they need to know that these lectures, doctor and nurses are the backbone of our country
Why did they give themselves 15% when their salaries where still high? On top of their huge salaries and almost free everything they will get K480m each as mid-term gratuity. These i.d.i.o.t.s should be kicked out by all means.
These ministers will never stop to amaze me. The chaps are very quite about their mid term gratuity, but very outspoken to broke all the civil servants increaments. On top of that, they are even threatening them with desmisals. Is that the onl way to end a conflict? ths country is in reverse gear unless something is done to stop the nuisense
ABENA CB mwalasa!!
ubuntungwa!!! MWALYONAIKA
Thats selfishness at its best!! 15% for yourselves and 5% for LEARNED lecturers! What a travesty. On top of that vi gratuity! Nonsense, if you ask me.
Ala twachula nefifilwani.
Out of 177 countries, find below is Zambia’s cure Human Development Index and its trend since 1970:
HDI rank 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
165 Zam 0.470 0.478 0.489 0.477 0.439 0.420 0.434
Clearly, Zambia made progress from 1975 to 1985 under the UNIP GRZ. Sadly, ever since the MMD took over power in 1991 to data we moved to worse by 2000 but late President Mwanawasa LP and Magande improved on former President Chiluba FTJ’s failures a bit.
I am yet to notice how President RB Banda’s performance will be in 2010 though there will be indicators this year I believe from the UN.
Interesting is that troubled Zimbabwe is ranked number 151 far better than Zambia. With this, what has gone wrong with us Zambians?
MMD MPs why can you resign?
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Matthew 6:33…
In light of the above, can the MMD GRZ stop wasting students, parents of students and lecturers/researchers time and end the go-slow or is it strike now by giving the UNZA personnel 15% increments.
We desperately need to produce graduates who may open companies to employ more Zambians.
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Matthew 6:33 + KJV Bible
Whats wrong with giving the dons something a bit above 5%. Lets us treat education with seriouness it derseves. The problem with Ministers who once served at Unza/CBU is that they dont want to see their fellows enjoy abit decent salaries. Its unheard of where pipo are made to work without getting the graduity, leave pay pension and loans coupled with poor or lack of accommodation. Each time I mit guys from Unza, they have all the knowledge but when it comes to look at the conditions of service one is made to conclude that they work for Mahala and being don in Zambia is like a curse. Dr. Musokotwane knows the conditions prevailing at Unza and he should not pretend insted should have sort out matters for smooth operations. Students go strike next its Dons. Lets clean up mess at Unza/CBUetc
Its no longer inspiring to work at Unza/CBU etc the only better place is parliament as an MP. All they are doing to quietly wait for their mid term gratuity whilst the rest of the majority are suffering. There are alot of guys occupying influencial positions in GRZ and public sector who passed thru Unza and all thses cant help out sort the problems. Meantime standards are going down the drain. Eventually Unza will become for poor pipo’s children as the pa Mwamba will continue sending their children to do social sciences abroad like Namibia, Australia, RSA and by the time they come back are given manegerial positions in GRZ & Parastatals. Education is a very important tool for human capital development and this country is not for leaders and their families we improved service delivery a…
are we cursed?????
Teachers,nurses,Doctors and now UNZA lecturers.It will very soon that the police and sodiers gone strike as well.The govt should do something before we are faced with total fall out of humanity in this country.
Musokotwane has forgotten where he came from.He should be reminded that he was a lecturer at the same institution & comparing civil servants perks to that of Public workers like Napsa,UNZA,ZRA,ZESCO etc is ridiculous.This is the guy who earlier said the GFC will not affect Zambia,what a Dr
I think these people are just being opportunistic, riding on the recent strike by civil servants. If “among the demands, Dr Chiputa said, were unpaid retirement benefits, baggage and passage allowances, unpaid pension subscription, unpaid contractual gratuity & unpaid leave” what’s the connection with the demand of increase in salaries? They’re using a different reason to advance their “wants”. They even talk of loans – why not ask the institution to make arrangements where they could get loans from Banks? In any case their comparing of conditions for civil service and theirs is rather stupid because everyone knows that they are on a better side. I’ve said b4 that these people lack innovative acumen otherwise they’d have been the ones making money outa jobs they’d have created
#22 mortal man
No we are not cursed but we have been conned.
#1 & #2 Ba Honey, in fact I am tempted to say the lecturers themselves are kind of comparing their conditions with those of the civil service when they demand loans and an inrease just at the time civil sernats were on strike. These people are eqully to blame because they are ideally supposed to be innovative by creating companies outa whatever they research on. the problem is that they first want to be given money and thats when they want to start research instead of thinking of how to make money out of their research products. Hoestly how do you explain that “among the demands, Dr Chiputa said, were unpaid retirement benefits, baggage and passage allowances, unpaid pension subscription, unpaid contractual gratuity and unpaid leave”? So someone who retired wants to hold UNZA to ransom.
That is the Zambian way of doing thinks, we come to realise and reason upon being conned. How does one agree to be underpaid on retirement pakage. One is supposed to go through it word by word sentence by sentence paragraph by paragraph chapter by chapter and page by page when satisfied assert signature. Thats why we need new kind of doing things. Let the Unza dons use their brains or grey matter and negotiate properly with GRZ. We do need any ealry closure of UNZA we urge each part to the negotiatins to be level headed and achieve results. If Finance Minister is not being mean with his facts of awarding the Dons 5%. There is need for transparency.
#26. You can’t just wake up and form a company. However, what I can tell you is that most lecturers have got companies which do consultancy work and research in Zambia. However, since the lecturers are employed by the govt, it does not mean they have to get peanuts because they have got companies, NO. Even most ministers and MPs have got companies but they got huge salary increments from govt despite having companies. Its does not mean also that if you have a ka ntemba and selling sweets and biscuits then the govt should not increase your salary NO. So whether you have a company or not, as long as you are employed by the govt, the govt has an obligation to give you a decent salary PERIOD.
No wonder chi UNZA nichi nambala 61 mu Africa.Even what those guys are asking for is 10% of my salary.Ukulundila fima MP lubilo.Some of us,i doubt if we can come back.
# 26 Dongo Na Sundu, you are very right when you say UNZA Lecturers should create employment other than keep demanding for increased salaries. World over governments greatly rely on universities in the creation of jobs for their pipo. A good university should be able to explore new opportunities for job creation in society which UNZA Researchers have failed to do. Ladies and Gentlemen, Govts are now moving into result oriented approach and UNZA Lecturers should begin re-thinking their position. Well, i appreciate the fact that UNZA offloads graduates every year and remains a great source for skilled manpower BUT it should equally help Govt by creating new opportunities for jobs through meaningful research work.
It is very sad that most contributors above do not understand what is happening in Zambia in relation to UNZA.
Check out the facts, GRZ has been relaying on a model that has not helped the education sector in Zambia because most of what is done is simply teaching or academic activities. Research has been sidelined through lack of funding from the GRZ (see how South Africa is doing things) and hence their is not much research output from UNZA which in turn makes it appear in the #60s on the African Universities ranking. The ranking is not purely based on academic output but appearances in publications following research work.
Just do a small research on Botswana and Namibia with regard to their commitment to education backed by industry and you will note the truth.
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Matt 6:33
These lecturers are greedy. 15% increment every year for the past 5years. I was asking a frnd in accnts who said a cleaner gets k1.8,the least paid! Come one,why open the uni,then hold us students ransom? We paid our fees last week. Then,even as they strike,they stil get paid while we rot in our hostels. Please, RB, GOVT,freeze the salaries till they return to work. No work,no pay. Those who dont want 5%,let them go or resign. They know they cant. Zambians,if u dont get paid enuf, RESIGN! dont hold the nation hostage.
#29 Ubuntungwa, at least I have someone to explain further my point in #31 1st Commander. Perhaps you are not aware that today we have what are called “entrepreneural universities. That aside, inventors such as for the zener diode, or lithium battery are from universities. And unlike havin companies outside their specialities like the UNZA guys do such as ownin taxis or from minin engineerin to jatropha promotion, those inventors own companies related to their profession. Just a thought; what would be wrong for those in schooll of agric operatin a viable farm unlike havin it sold to Mwanawasa just because people do not have use for it? What would be bad about department of food and nutrition coming with a company that rivals Trade Kings, or school of mines operatin an emerald mine?
I have given up on our curent crop of politicians. They don’t love Zambia the way their fathers loved it. They only want to be at the top and not interested in uplifting their felow countrymen. It is time we stood up and ousted a Government that has become a liability to its people. Zambians, we can do it. Young people should rise and make our motherland a better place for their children and children’s children. Lets encourage brave young people like the current UNZASU president, Duncan Nyirongo, an Obama class, and others who will lead us to freedom.
UNZA should be run commercially and allowed seek industry partners.The institution must charge market fees to raise revenue for it’s operational expenses including salaries.If faculties have programs which are not relevant to the needs of the job market or the country at large then they must be shut down and the lecturers either sent home or reassigned.You can’t continue producing engineers,physicists,biologists,sociologists e.t.c if the job market can not absorb them.If the job market instead requires more service sector skills such as banking or marketing then maybe the government should fund the School of Banking.Seriously you can go on with the same problems year in and year out.
So interesting to be a Zambian. REVOLUTION 2011
Unza thing wil never be resolved coz the founding fathers had a vision but the current crop of Political leaders & Administrators of Unza are greedy. Money matters. They ve fogoten that countrywide Zambians made a donation to lay the foundation of UNZA. Taking it from Dr. Tukiya Kankasa-Mabula (WE ARE STILL GOING) Unza Council Chairperson. She is not there to resolve the impase but to aggravate the situation. She is totally heading a wrong institution and lacks capcity to negotiate constructively. Unza is supposed to run viable entities, all u see in th evenings are drunk dons dabating and doing all sorts of things. Look back internet was introduced in Zambia by UNZA what is the story of ZAMNET Communication. Lets get serius and sort the MATA at hand regarding Unza its National ASSET
#36 Independent and #38 On Guard Alert, that is the point actually. So, the UNZA dons have to wake up and face challenges in an innovative way not just taking on an “hungry ophan” attitude.