The Zimbabwean Government has approved a new salary structure for university lecturers and staff, a move announced by the Permanent Secretary for Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science, and Technology Development, Professor Fanuel Tagwira. The development, approved by Mnangagwa, is intended to improve the financial welfare of university staff, align with the government’s commitment to improving the quality of education, and support educators. While the President has approved the structure in the proposed budget, the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Mthuli Ncube, still needs to release the funds.
Key Initiatives and Financial Context
- Salary Adjustments: The new structure aims to address long-standing concerns regarding the remuneration of lecturers and provide improved pay.
- Infrastructure and Funding: The Ministry requires over ZIG46 billion to fully fund its operations. This funding is needed not only for the new salary structure but also to support ongoing construction projects.
- Teacher Training Expansion: The government plans to establish teacher training colleges for secondary school educators across all provinces. Existing primary school teacher training institutions will be transformed, and a new college will be opened in Mhangura. This expansion will necessitate an increase in the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) funding.
- Operational Status: Professor Tagwira noted that while Zimbabwe’s universities previously struggled, they are now fully operational, and resources are exclusively used for teaching and infrastructure development. He cited the successful, fund-raising-supported construction of the MSU Law School despite only receiving ZIG8 billion from the Government last year.
Parliamentary Support
Dr Josiah Makombe, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher and Tertiary Education, expressed support for the ministry’s initiatives. He pledged to lobby for increased funding to ensure the successful implementation of the new salary structure and other educational projects. He also emphasized that development cannot be achieved under current budget constraints and stressed the importance of accountability within the ministry once the proposed budget is approved.
