Unions Suspend Academic Activities Over Payroll Delays
Three labor unions at the University of Zambia (UNZA) have announced they will not support the resumption of classes until university staff receive their salaries for September. The decision, reported by The Zambian Observer on Oct. 8, 2026, marks an escalation in pressure regarding worsening financial problems within the institution.
The unions stated that delayed salaries, unpaid benefits, non-remittance of funds, and a failure to access medical services are currently affecting union operations and the wider functioning of the university. Union representatives identified the payment of September salaries as their immediate priority while the academic program remains under pressure.
Financial Barriers Affecting Staff Welfare
Union officials detailed specific financial hardships impacting faculty and staff members. Dominic Liche, Secretary General of the University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union (UNZALARU), said non-remittance of funds has left workers unable to access healthcare services.
Liche noted that he personally fears going to the hospital due to unpaid bills from June. He emphasized that the lack of remitted funds has created significant barriers to medical care for university employees, a situation that extends beyond individual hardship to impact the broader operational capacity of the union itself.
Likezo Pumulo, a unionist associated with the group, said government funds for public universities were channeled through the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board rather than directly to UNZA. This routing of funds raised concerns about how the university can operate with students enrolled but without direct payment capabilities, highlighting a structural disconnect between funding sources and institutional liquidity.
Leadership Calls for Unity and Action
Prof. Andrew Phiri, President of the University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union, urged members to remain firm in their demands. He said workers should not be ashamed to demand what is owed to them.
Phiri stated that workers had fought for better conditions through collective agreements and should not allow those gains to be eroded. He warned that failure to act on the payment issues could return the university to conditions similar to those in 2020, a period marked by significant disruption and financial strain.
Moonga Mupona, Secretary General of the UNZA Workers Union, said every employee on the payroll has a right to timely salary. He urged unity among the university's more than 1,000 workers as they navigate the financial constraints, stressing that collective action is necessary to address the systemic issues affecting staff welfare.