Chanco students petition management over accommodation: Protest relocation to other hostels

Male students occupying Khondowe and Chilembwe Hostels at Chancellor College in Zomba, a constituent college of the University of Malawi have refused to bulge to management’s decision of having them relocated to other hostels at the campus to pave way for female students in the next academic year.

According to a communication from the office of the Dean of Students at the tertiary institution to the students on Wednesday, authorities have directed that male students from the two hostels be replaced by female students.

The decision stirred the hornet’s nest as the concerned students from the two hostels staged a protest on campus on Thursday while carrying mattresses from their rooms to show discontent with the move.

They marched around the campus to present their petition to the vice principal of the college Dr Richard Tambulasi.

Chanco male students in protest
Chanco male students in protest

In their petition, the concerned students argue that moving them out of the hostels will have adverse effect on their studies as they will be psychologically affected.

One of the concerned students, in an interview with Nyasa Times said they see no justification with the administration’s directive.

“We are going nowhere because we see no justification in their communication and we are not ready to give way. We feel that the solution to the accommodation problem at the college does not lie in removing male students from their respective hostels and replacing them with the other sex.

“Of course the problem is not there because one sex is occupying more space than the other but rather, the college does not have enough accommodation. In fact there is a suggestion that some of us will be relocated to other hostels at the campus and others will be sent to reside outside campus.

“This will impact on our social well-being at the campus and affect our studies. We are not going to bulge to their
decision and we are ready to shed blood for our cause,” he said.

He suggested that the solution can be better achieved if management consults government and other stakeholders to assist in constructing more hostels at the college.

Speaking after receiving the petition on behalf of management of the college, Dr Tambulasi assured the students that their concerns will be discussed and addressed accordingly.

Chanco students protest
Chanco students protest

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