Academics in Zimbabwe have warned President Robert Mugabe that all state-controlled higher education institutions face closure as a result of poor working conditions, the brain drain and other problems arising from the country's political and economic crises. With inflation now at 42 million percent, lecturers said their salaries no longer covered transport costs and that they had not been working since June.

A 26 July memorandum addressed to Mugabe, signed by heads of two higher education unions - the Zimbabwe State Universities' Union of Academics and the Zimbabwe State Universities Allied Workers' Union - said all public universities might "die" if their concerns were not addressed. The lecturers wrote to Mugabe in his capacity as chancellor of all state-run institutions of higher learning.

"As state universities' employees, we hereby bring to your notice that there have been several issues affecting our welfare and working conditions which have gone for a long time unresolved," said the memo, a copy of which was obtained by University World News.

The unions wrote they had in the past contacted several authorities, including the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education and his Permanent Secretary, but nothing had come of these efforts. "We even made presentations to the Parliamentary Committee on Education, again we hit a brick wall," they said.

Lecturers had not being going to work since June because, among other things, salaries no longer covered transport costs. In some instances their pay was said only to cover transport for two days. As a result, institutions of higher learning had experienced a mass exodus of experienced staff and absenteeism, leading to little work being done and crucial university functions being carried out by under-qualified or unqualified personnel.

"The current situation in state universities is a sorry one," the unions added in their memo to Mugabe. "For example, security guards have invigilated examinations. We feel this brings into question the credibility of the degrees that we will produce. We cannot allow our university standards to be compromised."

The memo concluded: "It is important to note that if something is not done urgently to address the situation, state universities will die and there will not be any reason to open for the next semester."

Independent economists say Zimbabwe's inflation is currently pegged at 42 million percent, the highest in the world, and the country also has the fastest-shrinking economy outside of a war zone. The highest denomination - Z$100 billion - only buys a box of matches.

In a bid to end the crises triggered by Mugabe's violently oppressive rule and economic mismanagement, the African Union mandated South African President Thabo Mbeki to mediate a power-sharing deal between Mugabe and rival Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai. But so far the parties have failed to reach agreement and the future continues to look bleak for Zimbabweans.

As a way out of the crisis facing universities, lecturers told Mugabe their salaries must be equal to, at least, average pay at other universities in the region. In view of spiralling inflation, they want salaries paid twice a month, straight from the Treasury into university accounts rather than into the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education's account, which has caused serious delays in payments.

The lecturers also demanded a meeting with Mugabe as well as resumption of negotiations with two ministries - Finance, and Higher and Tertiary Education - aimed at improving conditions at public higher education institutions. In March, Mugabe launched a Medical Sector Skills Retention Programme, aimed at reducing the brain drain from hospitals and clinics, and lecturers argued a similar programme should be put in place for them.

In an interview with University World News, chairman of the National University of Science and Technology Educators' Association, Sam Chabikwa, said that if government failed to address their grievances, lecturers would not be returning to work.

"The government must realise that education production is the key of every sector," said Chabikwa. "If they do not appreciate that: tough luck, they have a problem on their hands. There is no point in returning to work when we are hungry. It is ridiculous."


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