Members of staff for Mzuzu University (Mzuni) have turned down a 10 percent salary increment which the university’s council offered them in a closed meeting on Monday last week.
The council’s offer was an attempt to end the three-month stalemate which led to closure of the institution due to striking lecturers.
When contacted Communications Manager for the university, Chigomezgo Chokani, declined to comment.
“The meeting was in camera, and no official communication has come from authorities so that I can share with you,” Chokani said.
But The Daily Times has it on authority that in the meeting, the council promised to maintain the 10 percent increment in subsequent financial years, a decision which did not go down well with the staff representatives present to the gathering.
“The lecturers’ representatives asked for more time to seek views from their colleagues where we hear they are in disagreement with the offer. They feel it is still too low since they have gone for years without any salary hike,” said our source.
He said the staff have agreed to press the council for at least 20 percent increment with a promise to implement the 35 percent hike next year to cover for the missed years.
Speaking in a separate interview, President of the Staff Union, Barnet Musopole, confirmed the development, saying the current offer comes with a number of anomalies which need to be rectified.
“We do appreciate the move but the general feeling is that there are still a few things management could do to improve it. But we are yet to communicate the reaction of our members to the management,” he explained.
Msowoya then said that his team is eager to have the matter resolved and thus disclosed of a follow-up meeting with the council on Thursday, January 19.
Meanwhile, Mzuni students continue to express concern over the deadlock which has frustrated thousands of students.
Students Union leader Wazamazama Katatu in an interview over the weekend called on concerned parties to empathise with the students who are the victims of the misunderstanding.
This comes at a time when President Peter Mutharika who is Chancellor for University of Malawi and Mzuni ordered for immediate opening of The Polytechnic which was closed about six months ago.
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