Education
UNZA unions threaten strike action over persistent salary delays
Three trade unions at the University of Zambia (UNZA) have protested persistent delays in salary payments and worsening financial pressures at the institution, warning they could take lawful collective action if the situation continues. The University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union (UNZALARU), University of…
Picture: Zambia Monitor
Three trade unions at the University of Zambia (UNZA) have protested persistent delays in salary payments and worsening financial pressures at the institution, warning they could take lawful collective action if the situation continues.
The University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union (UNZALARU), University of Zambia Professional Staff Union (UNZAPROSU) and University of Zambia and Allied Workers Union (UNZAAWU) said employees had experienced repeated salary delays since January, with payments in many cases made after the end of the month and beyond the five-day statutory period.
The unions made the comments in a joint statement read at a media briefing in Lusaka on Wednesday and signed by UNZALARU President Professor Andrew Phiri, UNZAPROSU President Likezo Pumulo and UNZAAWU General Secretary Mupuna Moonga.
They cited August salaries, which they said were only paid on September 9, describing the situation as unacceptable and unsustainable.
While acknowledging government efforts to reduce UNZA’s long-standing debt burden, the unions said the interventions had not resulted in a sustainable improvement, with the university continuing to face significant cash-flow constraints.
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The unions said a substantial proportion of students were government-sponsored, with fees remitted through the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (HELSB), which they alleged had developed a pattern of underpayments and delayed or piecemeal disbursements.
They said HELSB also remained indebted to the university for fees from previous months.
“In August 2026, the unions became aware of instructions to utilise approximately K358 million in funding associated with government-sponsored students’ fees intended for operations, which was diverted towards settlement of pension and gratuity obligations,” they said.
The unions said the government’s July 2026 commitment had been to settle terminal benefits using separate resources rather than operational funds.
They also said the monthly government grant was inadequate and untimely, covering about 11% of UNZA’s total operational costs, compared with what they described as a regional average of about 56%.
The unions called for the urgent settlement of outstanding HELSB invoices, timely release of the monthly government grant and an increase in the grant in the 2027 national budget.
They also called for corrective measures, including a special grant to cover the K358 million they said had been diverted, a sustainable solution to the university’s liquidity challenges and efforts by management to broaden its revenue base.
“Going forward, the three unions will not accept delayed payment of salaries as a normal or permanent feature of employment at the University of Zambia,” the statement said.
The unions warned that if salary delays persisted, they would exercise their rights under applicable labour laws and collective agreements, including mobilising workers and taking lawful collective action.
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