Malawi gov’t bows down to lecturers demand for pay rise
Malawi government authorities have bowed down to demands by the lecturers at the University of Malawi (UNIMA) who have been boycotting classes due to low pay a development that had forced government to shift opening of the country’s institutions of higher learning.
Ministry of Education Spokesperson Rebecca Phwitiko says the government has agreed to raise the salaries of the academicians by 25 percent effective July, 2013.
Phwitiko also says lecturers for Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources will also receive similar increment while lecturers for Mzuzu University will have their salaries reviewed to match those with lecturers from other universities.
“This was reached during the discussion involving representatives from the three universities and we are now hoping that the students will soon be informed of the dates to return to class,” she says.
A local radio Zodiak Broadcasting Service has quoted a representative of the UNIMA’s workers’ union Frank Kapeni confirming receiving communication urging principals to invite students to return to their respective colleges as soon as possible.