GOVERNMENT GIVEN 60 DAYS TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES FACING UNZA.
Three Trade Unions at the University of Zambia have given the government a 60 days ultimatum to resolve challenges the institution of higher learning faces failure to which alternative action will be taken.
The University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union, the University of Zambia Professional Staff Union, and the University of Zambia Allied Workers Union want the government to immediately pay all gratuities and pensions owed to serving and retired staff whose backlog stands at 8 years amounting to K600 million.
The Trade Unions also want the government to immediately appoint and install a substantive Council and subsequent advertisement of the top University Management positions of Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and Dean of Students Affairs.
Speaking during a joint media briefing today, UNZALARU President Andrew Phiri lamented that the Unions have been ignored despite several attempts to engage the government to pay particular attention to the issues the University and its employees are facing.
And Dr. Phiri said while the unions appreciate the government’s commitment to supporting basic and secondary education, genuine commitment to education requires a holistic investment in all forms of education including tertiary.