Govt, University of Malawi resolve salary disparity impasse: Strike called off

A deadlock between government and the University of Malawi (Unima) academic staff over salary disparities has been resolved and all Unima constituent colleges will resume normal functions, it has been confirmed.

Unima academic staff especially at Chancellor College of Malawi (Chanco) has been on strike for almost seven months now protesting over pay disparity among Unima constituent colleges.

And President Peter Mutharika, who is also Unima Chancellor ,on Sunday dissolved the Unima Council following its failure to resolve the deadlock which left students not learning for months.

Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Emmanuel Fabiano confirmed in a statement to Nyasa Times on Tuesday that the dispute has been resolved after a meeting the Unima Council and College Academic Staff Union/Welfare Association representatives had at Ku Chawe Inn in Zomba.

The meeting was facilitated by government.

“The dispute over salary disparities has been amicably resolved. Consequently all constituent colleges of the University of Malawi will resume normal functions,” said Fabiano.

Meanwhile, Chanco management is expected issue out official statement confirming the same within the next two days on the opening of the college.

Lecturers at Chanco alongside their colleagues at the Polytechnic, Kamuzu College of Nursing (KCN) and the College of Medicine (CoM), have been demanding Unima to resolve salary disparities among the staff in similar grades in the four colleges.

They have been protesting the fact that some staff at the College of Medicine (CoM) get about 40 percent extra pay compared to their colleagues in similar grades at Unima’s other constituent colleges.

However, Unima registrar Benedicto Okomaatani Malunga justified the arrangement, arguing it has been in existence since 1991 when College of Medicine was established by Professor John Chimphangwi.

President Peter Mutharika on Friday bemoaned the impact of continued sit-in by Chanco academic staff during a meeting with Chancellor College student’s concerned parents at State House in Lilongwe.