Mzuni makes fresh demands on salary hike

The recent 25 percent salary increase which government gave to University of Malawi (Unima) staff has forced Mzuzu University (Mzuni) lecturers to demand a similar increment.

Mzuni lecturers demanded over 75 percent increment, but accepted a 21 percent hike that government offered across the board to parastatals.

However, Unima lecturers, who were pushing for 113 percent, were offered 25 percent which has seen them return to work.

Speaking in an exclusive interview on Monday, Mzuni Academic Staff Union vice-chairperson Misheck Banda said it was wrong for government to give 25 percent increment to Unima only when both institutions are public universities.

He said the union would meet again this Friday to decide the way forward, arguing government overlooked their spirit of understanding to return to work after being offered a 21 percent hike.

“We are not happy with the difference in increment. The 21 percent was communicated not only to Mzuni, but all public universities. We accepted the 21 percent because that is what we were told government could manage for parastatals.

“So, since it has been proved that the increment can go beyond 21 percent what we want is an arrangement that should apply to all public universities and not to those that went ahead with the industrial strike,” said Banda.

He said the staff in public universities are facing similar challenges and are doing the same work.

“Mzuni staff was closely monitoring the situation and they should not take us for granted…This time we don’t want to be going into meeting or disturb the calendar because the issue is straight forward,” said Banda.