Zim Varsity Lecturers Earning $2.50 per Hour

Zim Varsity Lecturers Earning $2.50 per Hour

Varsity lecturers in the country are earning US$2.50 per hour. This amount translates to just less than R50 per hour.

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This information was revealed by Fadzayi Mahere, a former Member of Parliament and lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe’s Faculty of Law.

The former Mount Pleasant legislator took to social media on Tuesday to bemoan the paltry amounts that lecturers at Zimbabwe state universities are earning.

Mahere bemoaned the low remuneration that Zimbabwean lecturers are earning and warned that it can have detrimental effects on the quality of teaching at the university.

In a tweet addressed to Prof Amon Murwira, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Higher Education, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere wrote:

“How can a university lecturer, even a part-time one, be paid US$2.50 an hour? Is this not an insult?

“How do you expect to attract competent academic staff on such a slave wage? What impact will this have on the quality of teaching at the university?”

To illustrate her point, Mahere shared a memo on the “Remuneration of Adjunct Lecturers” that was addressed to the Deans of Faculties and Chairpersons of Departments.

Zim Varsity Lecturers Earning $2.50 per Hour

Part of the communique dated 19 March reads:

“Please be advised that the Vice Chancellor approved a blended remuneration of Adjunct lecturers with effect from 9 March 2024. Adjunct lecturers (formerly Part-Time Lecturers) will now be paid their salary claims in both local currency and in United States dollars on a 50/50 basis.

“The United States dollar component will be calculated at two dollars and fifty cents (2.50) per hour while the Zimbabwean dollar component remains the same.

“This means that half their claims will be paid in Zimbabwean dollars and the other half in United States Dollars up to a maximum of sixty (60) hours a month.

“Claim forms for Adjunct Lecturers must henceforth be denominated in both currencies as explained above.”

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The memo also called on Deans and Chairpersons of Departments to give the Adjunct Lecturers all the support they need to open Nostro accounts with their banks.

🟣When we say Zimbabwe is the graveyard of dreams, this is what we mean.

A typical lecture at the @UniversityOfZim is 2 hours long.

At US$2,50 an hour, a lecturer will earn US$5 per day. On this wage, a lecturer can barely afford their combi fare to and from work. You would… pic.twitter.com/7EI4Jjt0qD

— Fadzayi Mahere🇿🇼 (@advocatemahere) March 19, 2024