A review of the challenges and survival strategies of University workers during the economic crisis: a case study of the Midlands State University (MSU) workers in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study explored challenges faced by the Midlands State University (MSU) workers and analysed the survival strategies used to deal with the identified challenges during the height of the economic crisis in 2007. Participants comprised 40 teaching and 21 non-teaching workers, of whom 35 were male and 26 female. Data were collected using a questionnaire and participant observation. Data analysis was through the SPSS programme and qualitative thematic analysis. The results revealed that, the six major challenges faced by MSU workers were lack of adequate remuneration, consumables, transport, electricity, office space and economic hardships. The most popular survival strategies to deal with such challenges were fiddling and escaping. The study revealed that most of the coping strategies employed by participants were not means of resisting the university but means of overcoming constraints paused by the university and thus facilitating university business.