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.

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