By A Correspondent- Lecturers at state universities and colleges have been urged to exercise patience while the government reviews their conditions of service.

This follows threats of job action issued by the lecturers through the Zimbabwe State Universities’ Union of Academics, a collective of state university lecturers.

Speaking at Hillside Teachers’ College graduation ceremony recently, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Fanuel Tagwira assured the restive lecturers that the Treasurer is looking into their issues.

He said:

“Processes are going on, therefore let’s wait and see what is going to come out from those discussions.

Through their association, university staff met with the ministry and we came up with a document.

That document was taken and given to the Ministry of Finance. We believe that something is going to come out of it.”

Last week the government offered civil servants a 76% pay rise which has since been rejected by the Apex Health Council and the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) as well as by the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA).