University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union (UNZALARU) general secretary Dr Kelvin Mambwe has warned that if the trend of delayed salaries continues, the union will withhold students’ results.

In an internal memo signed by acting registrar Rodgers Phiri, Wednesday, the UNZA management announced that November salaries would delay.

“This serves to inform all members of staff of the University of Zambia that the November,2019 salaries will be delayed and management is doing everything possible to ensure that the salaries are paid by 11th December,2019,” read the memo

But in an interview, Dr Mambwe lamented that delayed salaries had continued despite Higher Education Minister Dr Brian Mushimba’s promise to stop this when he assumed office.

“It is very disappointing that the tradition of delayed salaries at the university keeps recurring month in, month out. It is embarrassing for us to appear in the media to talk about salaries when there are other important issues we should be focusing on. We are so disappointed, we know that they are waiting for a grant. It is actually disappointing for government in that they have kept us always in the dark as to when the grant will be released,” said Dr Mambwe.

“This treatment is out of this world. This is not the first time you have covered us talking about the same story and you don’t see any change. The minister, just when he came into office, promised that the issue of delayed salaries would be history but what we are seeing is the same culture, the same tradition we saw under the former minister [Professor] Nkandu Luo. I don’t know what they are doing to the higher learning institutions. But I should mention that if this trend continues, our members will be left with no option but to withhold the results. I think that is the only language our colleagues seem to understand because if we don’t take action, they take you for granted. So I think we are going to act it will be in their bad interest because we are left with no other option.”