International Research Journal of Teacher Education

Vol. 2(1), pp. 016-029, March, 2014. www.premierpublishers.org, ISSN: 2326-7221

IRJTE

Case Study

Staff retention strategies in Zimbabwes public and

private universities: Returnee lecturers perspective
Tichaona Mapolisa
Educational Management, Faculty of Arts and Education, Zimbabwe Open University, Zimbabwe
The multiple-case study compared staff retention strategies in Zimbabwes public and private
universities from the point of view of criterion sampled four public and three private
universities Returnee Lecturers, respectively. In terms of similarities, the study found out that
public and private universities had monetary and non-monetary staff retention strategies. It also
observed that both public and private universities were found to have some conditions of
service which served as part of retention strategies in those universities. With respect to
differences, the study observed that public universities tended to offer better conditions of
service in terms of salaries and bonuses, even though both conditions of service lag behind
what international universities offer. The study concluded that staff retention strategies in
public and private universities tended to differ on paper and implementation approach, but in
practice they tended to yield similar results. Also, public universities tended to offer more
allowances than private universities because of the support they receive from the government.
Private and public universities need to have knowledge of what other local, regional and
international competitors offer in terms of staff retention strategies through salary surveys and
benchmark to effectively retain their staff.
Key Words: Staff, staff retention, staff retention strategy, university, public university, private university

INTRODUCTION
Despite the fact that universities of staff retention
strategies to retain staff, research in Zimbabwe has
shown that developing countries higher education
institutions (HEIs) are experiencing brain drain
challenges in the form of staff turnover. Zimbabwes HEIs
are grappling with a massive exodus of senior academics
with extensive teaching and research skills experience,
as well as other upcoming academics (Mushonga, 2005).
Their staff retention strategies for example, the University
of Zimbabwe at one time employed over 1000 professors
(Kotecha and Perold, 2010), but, by 2007 only 627 faculty
members remained, leading to the closure of some
departments (Kotecha and Perold, 2010). To compound
the problem, due to the erosion by hyperinflation of the
remuneration packages offered to academic staff, these
institutions have failed to attract equally experienced
lecturers as replacements for staff who have left their

university posts (Chetsanga, 2010).

The aforestated
research findings are confirming early research findings
by (Mushonga, 2004; 2005). First, the author observes
that 23 000 lecturers in African universities leave the
continent annually for greener pastures. The author also
indicates that the University of Zimbabwe had only 370
lecturers available out of the expected 1 200 in 2005.
Third, Mushonga (2004) in the action web retrieved on
14/12/05 notes that Zimbabwes State Universities Staff
Development 70 fellowship programmes are fast
becoming training grounds for universities within the
region and beyond. Lecturers were leaving their jobs
because of lack of staff retention strategies such as poor
conditions of service, low pay, lack of research and staff
development facilities to name a few (Adi, 2012;
Mushonga, 2005). It is not surprising that universities are
expected to play a major role in employing staff retention

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Mapolisa T

016

strategies that make them an employee of the moment.

Other researches in Zimbabwe focusing on staff retention
strategies have also established that lack of opportunities
for staff development fellowship (Mushonga, 2004 in
interaction web.retrieved 14/12/05), and contact and
sabbatical leave (Mupemhi and Mupemhi, 2011) have
complicated efforts to retain staff in the local universities.
To underscore, the preceding position, according to
Mushonga, one of the few academic staff who had been
privileged to go on Staff Development fellowship leave
had the temerity to write:
I have been here for six months now. My fellowship is
for one year, with the possibility for extending The story
of Zimbabwe is discouraging (Mushonga, 2004 in
interaction web. retrieved 14 December 2005).
In the same vein, Mupemhi and Mupemhi (2011) were
unhappy with the way how the Midlands State
Universitys staff representatives were handling the
issues of contact and sabbatical leave. The studied
universities were not making a deliberate effort to root
their staff retention strategies to the needs of the staff
and the universities at large.
The question whether or not university managers and
Human Resources Managers care about the role of staff
retention strategies is subject for empirical investigation.
Research has also shown that managers and employees
usually have many shared expectations that affect
retention (Dreyer-Hadley et al., 2008: 285). The same
authors go on to give some examples of such
expectations as the desire for:
1.
Recognition of work done.
2.
Open communication about the firms goals and
values.
3.
Job stability and security.
4.
Competitive wages.
While Dreyer-Hadley et al.s (2008), findings originated
in North Carolina, they seem to confirm previous
research findings by Salopek (2000) in cited by
Netswera, Rankhumise and Mavundla, (2005) in South
Africa who states that retention leaders need to do the
following in order to avoid brain drain (encourage staff
retention) (in no order of priority):
1.
Managing people and not retention.
2.
Having a culture of caring, balanced with a
tradition of excellence.
3.
Never soliciting employee feedback and then
ignoring it.
4.
Keeping an eye on the high performers and
rewarding outstanding performance.
5.
Viewing people management as a strategic
management issue.
6.
Being relentless in pursuit of continuous
improvement.
The foregone findings focused on challenges faced by
higher education institutions in retaining staff. They did
not particularise staff retention strategies universities

employ to retain staff. Furthermore, they did not compare

staff retention strategies in the context of public and
private universities. They also did not specify the
research participants. It is on account of such research
gaps that the current study is conducted to compare staff
retention strategies in Zimbabwes public and private
universities from the Returnee Lecturers perspective.
Statement of the Problem
Different organisations offer different staff retention
strategies (Adi, 2012; Bushe, 2012; Gwavuya, 2011). The
extent to which staff development strategies in
Zimbabwes public and private universities has been
compared from the Returnee Lecturers perspective is yet
to be empirically investigated. The study is meant to
address the following research problem:

How well do staff retention strategies in

Zimbabwes public and private universities compare from
the point of view of the Returnee Lecturers?
Objective(s) of the Study
The study has one objective. It comparatively establishes
staff retention strategies that obtain in Zimbabwes public
and private universities from the point of view of the
Returnee Lecturers.
Sub-question(s)
The study was based on one sub-question, as is given
below.

How comparatively do staff retention strategies

obtain in Zimbabwes public and private universities from
the point of view of the Returnee Lecturers?
Importance of the Study
The findings from the study of this nature are of great
significance to many stakeholders. These stakeholders
include universities managers, MOHTE, the students,
academia, industry and commerce, and the researcher.
First, the study provides university managers with
empirical data to arm them with possible standard and
best practices to retain academic staff. Second, MOHTE
would be provided with empirically tested information to
help them improve policy decisions on staff retention
strategies in the Zimbabwes public and private
universities. Third, industry and commerce indirectly
benefits from quality graduates who they would employ,
once they have been trained by satisfied, motivated,
committed and retained lecturers.
A fourth significance of the study concerned students.
Students would be the greatest beneficiaries of the study
because retention of qualified, skilled and experienced
lecturers would ensure that students receive knowledge
of the right quality. The fifth benefit of the study is that by

Staff retention strategies in Zimbabwes public and private Universities: Returnee lecturers perspective

Int. Res. J. Teacher Educ.

comparing staff retention strategies in Zimbabwes public

and private universities, the researcher generates new
knowledge regarding staff retention strategies in the
studied universities.
The sixth benefit of the study pertained to the lecturers
themselves. Findings from the study inform the lecturers
about the role they play in making sure that their
universities retain them in a motivational and satisfying
manner.
Delimitation of the Study
The study was restricted to two public and two private
universities in Zimbabwe which provided four and three
criterion sampled Returnee Lecturers respectively. The
study was a multiple case study whose data gathering
was confined to the use of face-to-face open-ended
interviews. The studys data analysis was done using
NVivo.
LITERATURE REVIEW
This part of the study reviews related literature on staff
retention strategies as is in the worlds selected
countries.
In a German study, Jongbloed (2012) highlighted staff
retention strategies obtaining in German universities.
Professors were found to be generally civil servants with
permanent lifelong positions that they have obtained after
habilitation a formal post-doctoral qualification usually
earned after a publication of a major book and a public
lecture. Jongbloed also found that other allowances are
determined individually such as performance bonuses, or
as in this case of German professors depend on
individuals skills at negotiating a good package.
In Malaysia, Hong et al. (2012) studied an effectiveness
of Human Resources Management Practices in
Malaysian Institute of Higher Learning. The identified
employee empowerment, training and development,
appraisal system and compensation are some of the staff
retention strategies obtaining at the Institute of Higher
Learning. By using a multiple regression analysis, Hong
et al. (2012) found out that training and development,
appraisal system and compensation were significant
employee retention strategies.
Studying, So hard to say Goodbye? Turnover Intention
among the United States Federal Employees Pitts et al.
(2011), cite Johnston et al (1993) who observed
promotion as a staff retention strategy. Pitts et al. (2011)
also concur with Cotton and Tuttle (1986), Griffeth, Hom
and Gaertner (2000), Porter and Steers (1973) and
Spector (1985) on considering career growth and
promotion as staff retention strategies. Job tenure,
according to Pitts et al. (2011) citing Blau and Khan
(1981), Cotton and Tuttle (1986), Lambert, Hogan and
Barton (2001), Lewis (1991) and Srenson (2000) was

017

also found to be another staff retention strategy. Pitts et

al. (2011) also found empowerment, employee
relationships and communication as among staff
retention strategies.
Some Nigerian studies explored the effectiveness of staff
retention strategies. Gberevbie (2009:226) found out that
in the area of employee retention, the study found out
that, the Civil Service put in place good incentives to
retain employees. On the other hand, Gberevbie (2009)
indicated that these retention strategies are however not
adequate to retain competent personnel compared to
what is provided by private organisations to retain its
employees (p.226).
In another South African study, Curran (2012) assessed
turnover in the Languages Services Sector of the
Parliament of the Republic of South Africa and identified
effective recruitment and selection training and
development,
adequate,
external
considerations,
appreciation and support, and career pathing as staff
retention strategies.
In another study, Mapolisa and Chirimuuta (2012)
explored strategies to hire back former Zimbabwe Open
Universitys to the institution; and highlighted utilisation of
lecturers expertise in quality assurance, staff
development schemes, competitive salaries, and
schemes to acquire houses, cars and start business as
staff retention strategies. Mupemhi and Mupemhi (2011)
investigated internal strategies in state universities in
Zimbabwe with a particular focus on the MSU.
Observations from the above countries organisations
and universities reveal that staff retention strategies were
basically quantitative in nature, country and organisation
specific. They were devoid of the comparative aspect of
whether or not the organisations were public or private.
Furthermore, they did not specify the type of research
participants with respect to whether or not they were
Retained or Returnee Employees/ Lecturers. It is against
the background of such literature and methodological
gaps, that this study is conduct to compare staff retention
strategies that obtain in Zimbabwes public and private
universities from the points of view of the Returnee
Lecturers.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This study was a qualitative multiple case study of two
public and two private universities in Zimbabwe.
Qualitative study has been chosen for this study because
of its ability to permit the research to read deep meaning
of the phenomenon being studied from the people who
are experiencing the effects of the phenomenon
(Marshall and Rossman, 2011, Silverman, 2014).
A multiple case study is deemed suitable for this study
because it useful when new knowledge and theories are
being sought or created (Creswell, 2012; Yin, 2009).
Criterion sampling was used to select four Returnee
Lecturers and three Returnee Lecturers from Zimbabwes

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Mapolisa T

018

Table 1. Demographic characteristics of the research participants (N= 7)

No.

Participants characteristics

Case 1
No.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Belonging to Public University

Belonging to Private University
Male Participants
Female Participants
Returnee Lecturer Participants Age in
Years
: 40-49
50-59
60+
Participants Professional Status and
Educational Qualification:
Professors
PhD Holders
Lecturer Participants with Masters Degree

6.

7.

8.

9.

Case
3
No.
0
1
1
0

Case
4
No.
1
0
1
0

Total

3
0
3
0

Case
2
No.
0
2
1
1

0
0
3

0
0
2

1
0
0

1
0
0

2
0
5

1
3
0

1
2
0

0
1
0

0
1
0

2
7
0

1
0
2

0
1
1

0
0
1

1
0
0

2
1
4

1
1
0
0
1
0
1

0
0
1
0
0
1
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
1

0
0
0
1
0
0
0

1
1
1
1
1
1
1

2
1

1
1

1
0

1
0

5
1

4
3
6
1

Highest

Returnee Lecturer Participants Relevant

Work Experience in Years
:
0-4
5-9
10+
Areas of Specialisation for the
Returnee Lecturer Participants:
Nutritional Bio-Chemistry
Monitoring and Evaluation
Nursing
Organisational Leadership
Geography
Psychology of Education
Social Anthropology
Tenure Status of Returnee Lecturers:
Tenured
Non-tenured

public and private universities, respectively. Criterion

sampling involves searching for cases or individuals who
meet a certain criterion (Kombo and Tromp, 2009). It
suited this study in that returnee lecturers possess a
wealth of staff retention experiences they had gained
locally and internationally.
The main research instrument for this study was an openended interview. Interviews permitted diversity of
stakeholder perceptions that deal with day-to-day staff
retention issues worth capturing. In-depth face-to-face
interviews involve direct contact with the participants who
are asked questions and provided participants with the
opportunity to comment on widely defined issues (Bless
and HigsonSmith, 1995). Thus, the Returnee Lecturers
who participated in this study enabled the researcher to
obtain thick descriptions of staff retention strategies
obtaining in the studied universities from the point of view
of the participants.
Research data were analysed using NVivo data analysis
software. In order to make sense of field data, my
research data were analysed using NVivo, a software
programme for Windows PC which combines efficient
management of non-numerical, unstructured data with

powerful processes of indexing, searching and theorising

(Creswell, 2012).
After analysing data regarding staff retention strategies in
Zimbabwes public and private universities, the
researcher resented data using main themes and subthemes drawn from the Returnee Lecturers viewpoints.
In order to derive meaning from the data, the researcher
used direct quotes meant to give the reader a sense of
being present at the research sites (Thomas and Nelson,
2001).
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
The data presentation, analysis and discussion constitute
a
two-fold
presentation
namely,
demographic
characteristics of the research participants, and actual
research data presented in tables to pave way for
discussion. The discussion includes reference to
literature, direct quotes and relevant documents were
possible. Three categories of participants comprising
seven participants were interviewed. Their profiles are
presented in Tables 1 to 7.

Staff retention strategies in Zimbabwes public and private Universities: Returnee lecturers perspective

Int. Res. J. Teacher Educ.

The participants consisted of seven Returnee Lecturers

(3 from Case 1, 2 from Case 2; 1 from Case 3; and 1
from Case 4). Returnee Lecturers were selected using
criterion sampling.
Six participants (3 from Case 1, 1 from Case 2, one from
Case 3 and 1 from Case 4) were male, while one was
female (1 from Case 2). These findings corroborate early
research findings by Billingsley and Cross (1992), Ngo
and Tsang (1998) and Whan (1998: 256-268) all in
Curran, (2012:22). The preceding authors found out that
higher education institutions had more male lecturers
than female ones, thus, reflecting a gender imbalance in
the staff composition in those institutions and the
universities under study.
Two participants were aged at least 40, implying that they
were middle-aged. Five participants were aged at least
60, an indication that they were mature and settled. The
findings largely agree with Okpara (2004: 327-338) in
Curran (2012:21) who observed that there is a
relationship between age and job satisfaction. Curran
(2012: 21) cites two relevant literature observations to
consolidate the preceding finding. First, she quotes
Martocchio (1989: 409-414) who established that
research shows that older people are more generally
satisfied with their jobs than younger people. Second,
she cites Martocchio (1989: 409-414) who found out that
older employees are more content and satisfied with their
jobs for reasons which include commitment to their
families. Thus, the study intended to find out whether
level of maturity of lecturers was among other strategies
to retain lecturers in the studied universities.
Public universities (Cases 1 and 4) provided four
participants, while private universities (Cases 2 and 3)
provided three participants. In spite of the uneven
distribution of participants in the targeted three
categories, the researcher was convinced that at least
one key informant in each Case was interviewed to
provide one with the studys sought findings centred on
staff retention strategies offered in the universities. The
study, being a qualitative study, was not about numbers
(Berg, 2010), but the quality and richness of data
gathered mattered most (Gray, 2009).
The researcher was privileged to interview participants
with very rich academic profiles. Seven participants were
PhD holders five of whom were from public universities
and the rest from private universities. What is evident
from the participants qualifications in the studied cases is
the fact that all participants consulted held some
functional knowledge about staff retention strategies
sought by the current study. They responded to the
interview questions regarding staff retention strategies
offered in their universities from an informed position
consequent upon their qualifications.
In terms of professional status, the researcher also had
the privilege to interview very senior professionals. Two
Professors (one male and one female from Cases 1 and
2 respectively) were interviewed. Also, all participants

019

from the two categories of the universities were PhD

holders who were at least senior lecturers. By implication,
all the participants were assumed to be conversant with
HR issues inclusive of staff retention strategies currently
on offer at their universities.
Two Returnee Lecturers across the studied universities
had a working experience of less than 4 years, while one
had a working experience ranging between 5 and 9
years, and four (the majority) Returnee Lecturers had a
working experience of at least 10 years at their present
stations. However, the Returnee Lecturers possessed
valuable experience and knowledge gained from working
in other universities locally, regionally and internationally
and the private sector. Such rich experiences enabled
them to meaningfully contribute to the studys staff
retention strategies data generation process.
Case 1s Returnee Lecturers specialised in Nutritional
Bio-Chemistry, Monitoring and Evaluation in Educational
Management, and Geography, respectively. Case 2s
female Returnee Lecturer participant specialised in Public
Health while one male Returnee Lecturer specialised in
Educational Psychology with a specialty in English
Literature. Case 3s Returnee Lecturer specialised in
Social Anthropology. Case 4s Returnee Lecturer was a
specialist in Organisational Leadership. The diverse
areas of specialisation were a rich source of the nature of
staff retention strategies employed at the universities to
retain the Returnee Lecturers.
Six Returnee Lecturers were tenured by virtue of their
high qualifications and they were already holding senior
positions as indicated earlier on. One was not tenured
because of ones lack of research and publication record.
The researchers were keen to determine the extent to
which tenure was among staff retention strategies in the
studied universities.
ACTUAL RESEARCH FINDINGS
Staff Retention Strategies Obtaining in Zimbabwes
Public and Private Universities
The first strategy used in the universities under study was
monetary which was made up of various payments. The
themes and their sub-themes are presented and
analysed in Table 2 (a) (See separate pages after
references).
A cross section of the participants responses reveals
some striking similarities and differences regarding the
various payments offered to lecturers as a form of
retaining them in Zimbabwes public and private
universities. Universities used various payments such as
monthly allowances, staff allowances, retention
allowances, salaries, and housing allowance.
Various Payments
The realisation that lecturers needed more than their basic

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020

Table 2. Theme(s) and sub-themes regarding staff retention strategies that obtain in Zimbabwes public and private
universities in the form of various payments on a comparative basis from the multi-perspective of HR, Retained and
Returnee Lecturer participants

Theme(s)
1.Various payments

Sub-themes
1.Monthly allowances
2. Staff allowances
3.Retention allowances
4.Salaries

5.Housing Allowance

salaries appeared to be common to all the universities in

the study. Also, to underscore the preceding
observations, the following two participants responses
suffice:
First, the allowance was appreciated by the lecturers as
shown below by Case 1 Returnee Lecturer:
so this university offers and additional two hundred
and fifty dollars per month to its lecturers, although it
doesnt come in time, but it is something that people
appreciate.
Second, Case 2 also offered a similar allowance to its
lecturers, as indicated by Returnee Lecturer 2:
we do give staff allowances. These are a form of a
retention allowance. We do give retention allowances but
they are dependent on ones level of seniority.
In agreement with the last finding, the researcher
observed that at Case 1 monthly allowance varies
according to ones seniority or status level. For example,
Deans obtain a higher monthly allowance than senior and
junior lecturers. This experience has also been
expressed by Case 2 Returnee Lecturer 2. It follows that
universities systems perceive that ones holding of a post
of special responsibility is important because of the effort
required to achieve such status like Professor or Doctor.
The foregoing findings indicate that public and private
universities use a monthly allowance to motivate lecturers
to stay on their jobs. Case 3 Returnee Lecturer 1 said it
all by indicating that:
Case 3 has subsidised or provided some allowances
to top up basic salaries.
By implication, the allowances are context specific, but
they tend to differ nominally, yet they serve the same
purpose. These findings appear to be consistent with
previous research observations (Mubatsi, 2012; Mupemhi
and Mupemhi, 2011) who observed the use of
allowances as a means of empowering staff financially.

Substantiating statements
1this university offers an additional two
hundred and fifty dollars per month to its
lecturers (Case 1 Returnee Lecturer 2).
1we do not give staff allowances (Case 2
Returnee Lecturer 2).
1we do give.retention allowances (Case
2 Returnee Lecturers).
1we do givebasic salaries (Case 2
Returnee Lecturer 1).
2Case 3 has subsidised or provided some
allowances to top up their basic salaries
(Case 3 Returnee Lecturer 1).
1lecturers get subsidised accommodation
in the campus (Case 2 Returnee Lecturer 1).

Allowances come as a relief to lecturers working in

countries that have very high tax bands. What is clear
about taxation in Zimbabwe is that salaries are so heavily
taxed that lecturers take home pay is drastically reduced.
The allowances act as a boost to the lecturers
disposable income. To a very large measure, the
preceding findings seem to indicate that public and
private universities ability to retain lecturers is somehow
determined by the competitiveness and attractiveness of
the allowances that the universities offer.
While there were differences in monthly in the studied
universities, the allowances offered in the two sets of the
universities differ nominally but achieve similar results in
practice. For example, Case 1 offers a monthly
allowance, while Case 2 offers a retention allowance, and
Case 3 offers staff allowances. The allowances are
somehow the same, but they are using different names to
reflect a brand (Sokro, 2012) associated with the
university. Because of the different brands universities
have, their allowances differ from one university to
another in terms of competitiveness and attractiveness.
These findings largely concur with Johnsons (2012)
findings citing (Chenoweth, 2009; Ferguson, Hackman,
Hanna and Ballantine, 2010; Jackson and Bruegmann,
2009; Johnson and Birkeland, 2003) who observe that
surveys and qualitative case studies by various
researchers document the ways in which differences
among schools influence teachers opportunities and
innovation for success. Critical observation in the
preceding empirical evidence is the fact that teachers
enjoy associating with success. In underlining these
observations, the researcher is content that allowances,
coupled with opportunities for success and innovation
would go a long way in determining how well Zimbabwe
public and private universities would manage to retain
lecturers. Allowances by their competitive nature, largely

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Int. Res. J. Teacher Educ.

021

Table 3. Intellectual developments role in enhancing staff retention in Zimbabwes public and private universities from the
plural perspective of HR, Retained Lecturers and Returnee Lecturers

Theme(s)
1.Intellectaual
development

Sub-theme(s)
1.Provision of scholarships

4. Provision of tuition waiver

3.Contact
leave
sabbatical leave

and

4.Research publishing and

attending seminars

Substantiating Statements
1those with Masters Degrees the university has
arranged scholarships so that they can do PhDs with
other universities (Case 3 Returnee Lecturer 1).
1staff dependents enroll for degree qualifications for
which they qualify and they have tuition waived (Case 2
Retained Lecturer 1).
2if you have a family member who wants to do
courses with the university they can do so free of charge
(Case 1 Returnee Lecturer 2).
1after 6 years sabbatical leave is given to staff on pay
and attachmentis done after 3 years (Case 2 Returnee
Lecturer 2).
1we need a university farm a research station
research facilitiesresearch funds (Case 1
Returnee Lecturer 1).
2opportunities for research are there and there is
encouragement for doing research (Case 1 Returnee
Lecturer 3).
3staff doing research need support (Case 1 Returnee
Lecturer 2).
4.for staff with PhDs, there are opportunities for doing
research (Case 3 Returnee Lecturer 1).

attract and retain lecturers in private and private

universities.
Salaries
Findings of this study reveal that salaries are a standard
obligation that private and public universities need to
meet every month. They all agree that university lecturers
earn salaries that are slightly above the poverty datum
line, notwithstanding their high qualifications, expertise
and experience. The following examples of some of the
participants interview responses help to expand this
subject.
In a bid to cushion private universities lecturers from low
salaries, Case 2 Returnee Lecturer 2 pointed out:
we do give staff allowances, retention allowance, as
well as their basic salaries...
A comparison of lecturers salaries in private and public
universities shows that in general public universities offer
better salaries.
Housing Allowance
The provision of transport, cell phones and laptops are
among key retention strategies presently being
appreciated across the universities investigated.
However, although housing allowance is also an integral
strategy, the study found out that some have
discontinued this aspect.
Given the background of such accommodation
challenges, it can be argued that in both public and
private universities, Zimbabwe, provision of facilities of

accommodation and increasing opportunities for lecturers

to get decent accommodation is an unquestionable
pathway to staff retention enhancement and promotion in
those universities. In regard to how housing allowance
can be used by the universities to improve staff retention,
Case 1 Returnee Lecturer 1 sums it up all in a very
practical and realistic way:
For example, the organisation can simply offer hundred
percent bond that is if the staff member finds a house in
which he wants to stay with his family and without paying
any deposit on the agreed amount the staff member
moves in with his family with the university as a surety
that the funds generated by this staff member will actually
be used to pay for the accommodation. In other words,
the organisation becomes a guarantor.
The point raised in the above opinion is the need for
universities to prioritise staff members accommodation
needs if ever they are going to succeed in retaining them.
A university that prioritises its staff members
accommodation needs has a big heart for its employees.
It shows how well the universities regard employees as
their greatest resources.
Intellectual Development
One other emerging theme from the study indicated how
Zimbabwes public and private universities tried to
promote staff retention is intellectual development. Just
like the theme of various payments payable to lecturers in
the universities, intellectual development and its
emerging sub-themes are presented in the Table 3
showing plural participant perception regarding the role

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Mapolisa T

022

of intellectual development in retaining staff.

Among other sub-themes of intellectual development that
emerged from the study in the public and private
universities quest to retain staff were provision of
scholarships, staff development, study leave, tuition
waiver for staff dependents and research, publishing and
attending seminars. In an attempt to demonstrate the
participants appreciation of intellectual development
obtaining at their universities to retain staff, the following
excerpts put their appreciative into its proper perspective:
Scholarships, according to Case 3 Returnee Lecturer 1:
The first one is that those with Masters Degrees who are
permanent staff, the university has arranged scholarships
for them so that they can do PhDs with other universities.
This observation is in contradiction with the researchers
observations at Case 1 where staff members are
encouraged to pursue PhD studies with the university
free of charge. Both are useful staff retention strategies.
However, in support of Case 3s position, Case 1
Returnee Lecturer 2 remarked:
members are encouraged to undergo some
postgraduate training so there is provision of staff
development.
It is indisputable that the aforementioned three findings
highly value the attainment of higher qualifications by the
studied universities, especially the PhD qualifications
which will in the mind of the researcher increase
universities institutional visibility. The programmes that
are offered and products of universities with many
lecturers with PhD qualifications tend to gain more
acceptance, credibility and fame in the local market and
beyond. Again, the researcher is of the opinion that when
the stati of the universities have been enhanced through
high qualifications, lecturers tend to stay at such
university in search of fame, status and success, as well
as prestige. Moreover, the lecturers dependents also
have their academic stock raised by the tuition waiverand indication that the university will be deeply concerned
about the living standards of not only its staff members,
but their families as well. The universities want to
associate with successful lecturers and their families.
Such findings are in agreement with Seehra (2013,
unpublished) who found out that staff can be recruited
and retained by creating a culture of serendipity based on
continuous development for the academic faculty. A
culture of serendipity in the context of this study and
Seehra (2013, unpublished) means an accidental
pleasant surprise experienced by managers in their bid to
implement staff retention strategies. For example, some
lecturers offered a pleasant surprise for university
managers when lecturers stood by their universities by
remaining loyal and committed to their jobs during
Zimbabwes economic downturn between 2000 and
2010. It was pleasing to note that both public and private

universities under study shared the desire to upgrade

their staffs qualifications with the hope to retain them.
Provision of Staff Development
Allied to the provision of scholarships, is the provision of
staff development opportunities as another emerging
sub-themes of intellectual development.
Case 3
Returnee Lecturer 1 earlier on dealt with this subject by
indicating that those with Masters Degrees are supported
by the university to pursue PhD studies with local or
foreign universities. Furthermore, Case 4 Returnee
Lecturer 1 pointed out that his university pays fees for its
lecturers undertaking PhD studies. These findings tend to
concur with the researchers observations made at Case
1 where three Faculties had at least two assistant
lecturers between 2008 and 2013 and to date whose
qualifications were upgraded between 2012 and 2013.
Also, most of Case 1s lecturers are undertaking PhD
studies with the university. Such findings make the
researcher to view that the concerned Case 1 is
beginning to appreciate challenging its assumptions on
the make-up of todays academic workforce (Blass, 2013,
unpublished).
From the findings above, most cases except Case 2
appreciate the role of staff development in retaining staff.
Therefore, one can argue that the vision and
organisational set up of the public and private universities
determine how staff development could be useful to
retain staff. In this study, it appeared that public
universities valued staff development in retaining staff to
a larger extent than their private university counterparts.
The support given to private university lecturers for staff
development was comparatively less than that given to
their public university counterparts.
Study Leave
From the study, it appeared that there is some link
among study leave, staff development and scholarships.
Case 3 Returnee Lecturer 1 earlier on indicated Masters
holding lecturers have opportunities for them arranged by
their university to do PhD studies with other universities
even outside the country. The same perception was
upheld at Case 4, while at Case 2 it was reported that
lecturers can go on sabbatical leave or study leave
without pay. Blass (2013, unpublished) observations that
universities should challenge their assumptions on the
make-up of todays academic workforce become
unacceptable in regard to Case 2s circumstances. The
researcher qualifies the preceding view using what Case
2 Returnee Lecturer 1 said about the subject:
there are no clear staff development opportunities like
you get at UZ or ZOU.
These findings are an indication of varied university
circumstances meant to improve lecturer quality. Most

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Int. Res. J. Teacher Educ.

023

Table 4. Intellectual developments role through research in enhancing staff retention in Zimbabwes public and private
universities from the perspective of Returnee Lecturer Participants

Theme
1.Research

Sub-theme(s)
1.Intentional
institutional
encouragement
for
research

Substantiating Statements
1. the vast opportunitiesavailable for
intellectual development because (Case 3
Returnee Lecturer 1).

studied cases, with the exception of Case 2 appreciate

the efficacy of study leave in retaining staff at the
university. Hence, the researchers observations made at
Case 1 indicated that lecturers pursuing PhD studies are
offered staff development leave to assist them complete
their studies. The study leave is dependent on the
university Councils and senior managements support
given to lecturers in line with the universitys vision and
mission in regard to staff retention.

opportunities for staff to go for contact leave and

sabbatical with the intent to retain them. While the
universities were not forthcoming in this regard, they
need to consider Mapolisa and Mubikas (2013)
recommendation that universities should send deserving
lecturers for sabbatical leave for their professional
growth.

Contact Leave and Sabbatical Leave

It has emerged from the study that tuition waiver targets

specific people. Case 1 Returnee Lecturer 2 indicated
that tuition waiver only benefits staff members with young
dependents. The participant pointed out in their interview
responses that their children had not benefited from the
practice because their children were educated abroad.
Again these findings reveal that tuition waiver is more
beneficial in retaining staff in public universities than in
private institutions.

It also came out from the study that intellectual

development of staff in the studied universities can also
be achieved through opportunities for contact leave and
sabbatical leave. However, the actual situation on the
ground is that provision of contact and sabbatical leaves
tends to be scarce in the studied universities. What is
coming out from the above observations is the fact that
universities face challenges of sending deserving
lecturers for sabbatical leave due to financial constraints.
This feeling is echoed by Case 2 Returnee Lecturer 1
who said:
as you may be aware sabbatical also has its
challenges
In supporting the two foregoing views, the researcher
hardly observed lecturers going for sabbatical in the
studied cases, save for Case 1, which recently, started
showing efforts to send senior staff for sabbatical leave in
local universities. As a result, the researchers
observations at Case 1 indicate that lecturers who are
due for sabbatical leave and contact leave may now go
for the two kinds of leave subject to the availability of
funds. However, despite the existence of related literature
on contact leave and sabbatical leave, Mupemhi and
Mupemhi (2011) found out that MSU staff representatives
seem not to be very happy with the benefits as some of
the contractual benefits such as contact and sabbatical
leave have not been fully honoured.
From the findings, the researcher observes that what
universities seem to play down is the critical role of
contact and sabbatical leave in enhancing intellectual
development of their staff. Both kinds of leave provide
staff members with opportunities to gain or share
knowledge and experiences with others. Also, through
work they do during the sabbatical leave, they get extra
income. Most universities in this study have been found
wanting on the aspect of providing increased

Tuition Waiver

Research, Publishing and Attending Seminars

The last set of sub-themes of intellectual development
from the studied universities participants was;
encouragement for research and no support for research.
Pertinent revelations are shown in Table 4 (See separate
page after references).
Intentional Institutional Encouragement for Research
The study revealed that public and private universities
approaches to research activities differ despite the fact
that research justifies the existence of the universities.
Notably, public and private university participants from
Cases 1 and 3 pointed out that their institutions
intentionally encourage and financially support staff to
conduct research publish and attend related
seminars/conferences within and outside Zimbabwe. One
pertinent interview responses to underscore the above
sentiments are given below:
Case 3 Returnee Lecturer 1 stated that: the vast
opportunitiesavailable for intellectual development
becauseits a development university there are good
opportunities for career development.
These findings tally with literature by Chakanyuka et al.
(2008) and Kotecha and Perold (2012) who found out
that research and publishing decide the lecturers

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024

Table 5. Participants perceptions of the sub-theme regarding the provision of employees welfare/safety nets practised in
the public and private universities in Zimbabwe

Themes
1.Provision of employees
welfare/safety nets

Sub-theme(s)
1.Universities organisational
loans

Substantiating statements
1. Universities organisational loans made
available to employees (Case 2 Returnee
Lecturer).

Table 6. Sub-theme(s) from enabling work environment as a staff retention in the studied universities

Themes
1.Enabling
environment

work

Sub-theme(s)
1availability
of
appropriate/relevant
resources
(including
equipment) to use for work

promotion, status and recognition destiny in most

universities. On an affirmative note, the findings reveal
that when staff members publish it becomes a morale
boost in terms of recognition in academia. Lecturers
cannot be tenured, promoted to senior lecturer grade or
professorship if they do not publish and research well,
hence, the existence of the adage in the academic realmpublish or perish. Researchers observations made
across all cases indicate opportunities for research of
varying degrees. These findings confirm early research
findings by Blair and Jordan (1994), Amrein-Beadsley
(2007), Mubatsi (2012) and Seehra (2013, unpublished)
who held research opportunities with high regard. Given
the background of the observed research sites
background, the findings also agree with Cocklin (2013,
unpublished) who observed that developing high
research fields to distinctively mark its institutions at an
international level and Pechners (2013) observation that
research assists institutions to secure the placement of
high calibre individuals.
An opposite of the foregoing finding is presented by the
following participants views discussing these aspects
of research without practical action. Case 2 participants
reported that their institution is weak in encouraging staff
to research, publish and attend seminars including lack of
financial support (Case 1 Returnee Lecturer 1). On that
note, Case 2 Returnee Lecturer 1 lambasted her
institution for its failure to support a research culture.
These findings differ with previous research findings
(Cantwell and Lee, 2010:492) who observe, Moreover,
most research addressing International Higher Education
does not take a cross national or comparative
approach. Also, research output consequent upon the
given circumstances hardly increases the necessary
recognition (Kotecha and Perold, 2010), eventually
impinging on the universitys ability to retain staff through
research. They further dispute Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinzas
(2008) observation that Makerere University has an SD
fund to sponsor full-time lecturers for further studies.

Substantiating statements
1in terms of connectivity, the university is well
connected (Case 3 Returnee Lecturer 1)

Provision of Employees Welfare/Safety Nets

Table 5 shows the sub-theme that has been derived from
the provision of employees welfare/safety nets was
universities organisational loans.
Universities Organisational Loans
It also emerged from that some of the universities went
an extra mile in trying to retain their staff by offering
organisational loans to their staff. Case 2 Returnee
Lecturer 1 was a recipient and beneficiary of an
organisational loan called installation, as the excerpt
below confirmed that:
when I arrived they also offered what they call
installation loan for you to buy whatever it is that you
want to buy to help you settleits a loan given at a very
low interest rate.
Case 2 Returnee Lecturer 1 was received that loan even
though it was subject to the availability of funds Cases 1,
3 and 4s institutions still owe the lecturers the funds yet
at the same time they could be absolved of such
obligation to the members. Failure to pay this loan could
be a disincentive to the Returnee Lecturers because the
universities appeared to be reneging on their promises.
Enabling Work Environment
Enabling work environment that obtains in the universities
as another emerging theme associated with staff
retention in the studied universities. Relevant sub-themes
and their substantiations are presented in Table 6.
Table 6 presents the sub-theme that fell under enabling
work environment was availability of appropriate/relevant
resources (including equipment) to use for work.
Availability of Appropriate Office Accommodation
Appropriate offices constitute one of the greatest desires

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025

Table 7. Sub-themes under the theme no staff retention strategies all in the minds of other studied universities participants

Theme(s)
1.No
staff
retention
strategies at all

Sub-themes
1.No policy
research

2.Unenunciated
policies

to

support

retention

of an every academic. Two participants indicated that

provision of appropriate office accommodation was a
basic need. Their views are given below.
Similarly, Case 3 Returnee Lecturer 1 said:
in terms of connectivity, the university is well
connected.
The above views confirm early research findings by Blair
and Jordan, (1994); Amrein-Beadsley, (2007) and
Mubatsi (2012) who argued that facilities help to retain
staff in institutions at that time. Case 2 (Yearbook, 2013)
consolidates these observations by indicating that the
university had a good state of the art laboratories. Also,
the entire infrastructure ., had excellent ICT facilities
ranging from desktop to WiFi and wireless connection
within the campus, and telephones. The same case had
good staff accommodation at the campus at reasonable
rates.
An opposite opinion to the above findings emerged from
Case 1 Returnee Lecturer 3 who retorted;
Facilities, do I know of any?
This opinion confirmed Case 2s infrastructure challenges
mentioned earlier on under this subject. The preceding
findings depict mixed feelings about participants facilities
offered at each university. It was not surprising to find
participants from the same university contradicting as
was the case with Case 1s participants.
In the light of the preceding findings, participants who
lacked spacious office space were sharing offices and
their ethical rights to privacy and confidentiality were
violated. These findings dovetail with researchers at the
Consortium on Chicago School Research (Allenworth et
al. in Johnson, 2012:115) who studied one hundred
Chicago schools with chronologically high rates of
teacher turnover and found out that organisational
characteristics other than demographic characteristics
explained the mobility. In this study, organisational
characteristics best explain how resources are made
available to retain staff. Within the framework of this
study, organisational characteristics include university
managers who mutually reach a compromise with staff
members on how best to avail resources. It has been
realised that where universities pursue a people-centred
brand, they provide resources more than in institutions
where management seeks to best protect their own
interests, as was indicated by most of the studys
participants.

Substantiating statements
1no policy to support research (Case 2
Returnee Lecturer 1).
2no research funds set aside... (Case 1
Returnee Lecturer 1).
1they havent been clearly enunciated as
far as I know (Case 2 Returnee Lecturer 2).

No Retention Strategies
A surprising, unexpected and final theme under staff
retention strategies obtaining in the studied universities is
no retention strategies at all.
Sub-themes to demonstrate the non-existence of staff
retention policies in the studied universities are no policy
to support research and unclear retention policies are
presented in Table 7.
No Policy to Support Research
Related to the above observation, was the absence of
policy to support research in the public and private
universities. On that note, Case 2 Returnee Lecturer 1
pointed out that her Case had no policy to support
research. Her sentiments were echoed by Case 1
Returnee Lecturer 1 who lamented the lack of research
support at his Case because of the absence of block
funding for research, no vehicle for research and
research station. In view of such opinions, it can be
argued that public and private university lecturers might
hardly be retained in the absence of supporting policies
for both micro and macro-research related activities.
Unenunciated Policies
A fourth observation which emerged from the study to
underline the theme; no retention strategy at all, was
unenunciated retention policies. A confirming response
for this view came from Case 2 Returnee Lecturer 2 who
stated:
they havent been clearly enunciated as far as I
know
This remark once again confirms Case 2 HRs comment
that there was totally nothing to talk about in terms of
staff retention strategies. In view of the above four
findings, the researcher is content that as long as there
are no clearly written down retention policies, unclear
staff retention strategies, no policies to support research
and totally no retention strategies to talk
SUMMARY
Similarities
Despite the differences in contexts, situations, settings,
ownership, practices and experiences between public

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Mapolisa T

026

and private universities, some shared staff retention

strategies emerged from the study. First, public and
private universities had monetary and non-monetary staff
retention strategies. Second, both public and private
universities were found to have some conditions of
service which served as part of retention strategies in
those universities. Third, some of the allowances offered
in public and private universities tended to differ
nominally, yet in practice, they tended to yield similar
results. Salaries were established to be a standard
obligation that private and public universities needed to
meet every month. Public and private universities used
research publications to promote lecturers as a means to
retain them (Chakanyuka et al, 2008). Contact leave and
sabbatical leave were obtaining on paper, rather in
practice in both categories of the universities. Both sets
of the universities had the desire to use enabling working
environments to promote staff retention. All the studied
universities did not offer housing allowance, thus,
disregarding Maslows observation in Bushe (2012) and
Ngethe et al (2012) that accommodation is a biological or
physiological need for employees. Both kinds of the
universities lacked support for research and had
unenunciated staff retention strategies.
Differences
A number of differences in staff retention strategies
obtainable in Zimbabwes public and private universities
were observed. Public universities tended to offer better
conditions of service in terms of salaries and bonuses,
even though both conditions of service lag behind what
international universities offer. Also, the conditions of
service were university-specific as they appeared to vary
from one university to another, irrespective of the
university category. Also in addition, opportunities for
career growth, staff development, research and
consultancy, as well as contact leave, study leave and
sabbatical leave obtained differently in public and private
universities and were university-specific. Public and
private universities had different sources of income in
which the former were government funded and the latter
were funded by Board of Directors and or partnerships
loans, but public universities did not have them.
CONCLUSIONS REGARDING STAFF RETENTION
STRATEGIES OBTAINING IN ZIMBABWES PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES
On the basis of the above findings, the following
conclusions were drawn.
Similarities
In terms of similarities, here are the studys conclusions.

Staff retention strategies in public and private

universities tended to differ on paper and implementation

approach, but in practice they tended to yield similar

results.

Staff retention strategies in both kinds of

universities were university-specific, notwithstanding the
fact that the universities could be public or private.

Any failure to reflect housing allowance on the

lecturers pay slips every month is a clear indication that
the universities leadership are not considering issue of
staff accommodation as a priority.

Both sets of the universities had no policies to

support research.

Both kinds of the universities had no clear and

straightforward policies.
Differences
Regarding the differences, it can be concluded that:

Public universities tended to offer more

allowances than private universities because of the
support they receive from the government.

The opportunities for research work, staff

development, career path growth, recognition, reward
and promotion tend to obtain more in public universities
than in private ones because of the existence of a culture
of appreciation of lecturers efforts that characterize
public universities.

The existence of staff retention strategies in the

universities distinguishes emerging universities from
submerging universities in terms of being employers of
choice that value the lecturers as one of the most
important resources that the universities have.

Finally, it can be concluded that funding is the

rock adequate upon which all other resources are build
upon as far as the availability of staff retention in the
studied universities is concerned.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STAFF
STRATEGIES IN THE UNIVERSITIES

RETENTION

On the basis of the preceding findings, the researcher

makes the ensuing recommendations.

Private and public universities need to have

knowledge of what other local, regional and international
competitors offer in terms of staff retention strategies
through salary surveys and benchmark to effectively
retain their staff. The study recommends a starting salary
of US$4 000 for a university lecturer.

Performance-based pay for lecturers is the best

strategy to retain lecturers in both kinds of universities.
Universities should retain lecturers who actually work and
have the capacity to actually pay themselves through
hard work.

Future research studies need to focus on what

other universities in the SADC region offer as staff
retention strategies for the sake of comparability.

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Accepted 15 October, 2014.
Citation: Mapolisa T (2015). Staff retention strategies in
Zimbabwes public and private Universities: Returnee
lecturers perspective. International Research Journal of
Teacher Education, 2(1): 016-029.

Copyright: 2015. Mapolisa T. This is an open-access

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Staff retention strategies in Zimbabwes public and private Universities: Returnee lecturers perspective