LUSAKA, Aug. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Lecturers in Zambia's leading higher education institution, the University of Zambia (UNZA), have gone on strike in protest of mismanagement and unfair treatment of lower staff,  local newspaper The Post reported Thursday.

    Thomas Mabwe, president the lecturers' union, said there would be no academic activities on the campus until Vice Chancellor Robert Serpell and his deputy Geofrrey Lungwangwa are removed from office.

    Registration for the new semester started at the university Monday.

    Briefing the press Wednesday, Mabwe said the strike has been precipitated by a management style based on manipulative behavior,vindictiveness and dictatorial tendencies.

    He said the lecturers are concerned with the managing of the institution's financial resources, such as the lavish spending on cars, as well as the discriminatory manner management is handling renewal of contracts.

    The lecturers are particularly unhappy with a special allowancefor professors amounting to about 400 US dollars a month, while lecturers and lower staff get nothing.

    UNZA has been in constant troubles over the years ranging from boycotts of classes by students over fees to strikes by staff overconditions of service, resulting in many students staying as long as six years on the campus.

    Meanwhile, the UNZA council has appealed to the lecturers for dialog, saying that their demand will be considered.

    Reacting to the appeal, General Secretary of the lecturers' union, Evans Lampi, said the union is willing to meet the council anytime this week to discuss the impasse. Enditem