Mozambique’s top university returned to normality

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Mozambique’s top university returned to normality

11:51 CAT | 17 Jul 2017

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The main campus of Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), the top university of Mozambique, is functioning normally, Lusa found on visiting the institution on Friday and a source from the institution in Maputo confirmed .

The source said that examinations resumed on Friday, as did administrative activities, after the Rapid Intervention Force (FIR) used tear gas to disperse staff at the institution accused of provoking disturbances on Thursday.

Members of a Protection Police public order unit could be seen in the courtyard of the rectory, scene of Thursday’s disturbances, but not the FIR, who used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse about two hundred members of the university’s Technical and Administrative Corps.

None of the striking workers were to be seen at the university on Friday, and it was not know n whether or not the strike was to continue. Lusa did not succeed in contacting the group’s spokesman. On the second floor of the rectory building, the extended board of directors meeting was taking place normally.

According to the Mozambican Information Agency (AIM), some strikers were injured in the mayhem caused by [rubber bullet] shots fired by the police. Striker’s spokesman António Muzime blamed the UEM leadership for the disturbances, saying they “lacked humanity”, while the institution said the strike was illegal.

In a statement, the EMU management says that “within the framework of the public administration in which the CTA is integrated, and in terms of the way in which it was carried out, the strike is illegal.”

The institution accuses the strikers of “limiting the normal operation of UEM activities, disrespect for property, sabotage of premises, means and equipment” and “coercion of employees, most of whom did not join” the protest.

The UEM administrative staff have been on strike since Wednesday over the non-payment of an ‘effectiveness bonus’ since November 2016. AIM says 21 million meticais (about EUR 304,000) is owed some 1,018 employees.

Source: Lusa