A labour dispute is intensifying in Malawi's higher education sector as the Public Universities Staff Union (PUSU) formally demands a 50 to 60 percent salary increment effective April 2026, according to the Nyasa Times. PUSU President Jimmy Gondwe issued a directive instructing union leaders at major public institutions, including the University of Malawi (UNIMA), Mzuzu University (MZUNI), and the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), to immediately initiate negotiations. Gondwe cited a 27 percent inflation rate, rising fuel prices, and recent taxation reforms that have severely depleted the purchasing power of academic staff. The union warned of industrial unrest and a potential brain drain if the government fails to address the financial strain.
In related higher education news, the Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) is demanding swift government action to resolve the operational dispute between the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) and Pentecostal Life University (PLU), AfricaBrief reports. CSEC Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe stated on April 16 that the Ministry of Education must intervene to protect students and maintain public confidence in the sector. PLU has pushed back against recent NCHE regulatory guidance, stating that the institution remains fully operational. University officials noted they are observing a 60-day period pending formal gazettement and have submitted evidence of compliance to the Parliamentary Committee on Education.