Maladministration, corruption chokes Mzunzu University: Staff allege
Both academic and support staff at Mzuzu university have fingered the institution’s seven-member management for the financial woes ravaging the institution, saying it is the worst performing team since the inception of the University in 1998.
Among other things they cite gross maladministration, micromanagement, nepotism, lack of transparency and accountability.
In a confidential document, authored by staff only known to Nyasa Times and titled ‘Mzuni staff 5% pay rejection – the facts, unresolved issues’ Mzuni staff raised 15 issues which they said need to be resolved to unyoke the institution from the current financial abyss and function properly.
But Mzuni Communications and Marketing Officer Chigo Gondwe Chokani, initially asked for a questionnaire which she said will be forwarded to the University Council for responses.
Paradoxically, Chokani herself is also fingered in the document as grabbing her post through nepotism and the back door.
“Again, Mzuni operating with a deficit budget, continues to recruit new staff. For instance, they recently recruited the daughter of the deputy vice chancellor, despite that there were better qualified candidates during the interviews, as a Communications and Marketing Officer. In fact, it is alleged that one editor working at a leading media house came out tops during the interview but was not picked just to appease the deputy vice chancellor,” the document said.
When pressed forresponses through a questionnaire, Gondwe Chokani demanded to know our sources and Nyasa Times rebuffed her request.
Strangely, she then asked Nyasa Times and its sources to formally write the University Council Chairperson Rex Harawa for answers.
“Council requests that you or your source(s) formally write to them on the issues you have raised in your communications and documents… Please send your letter to the Mzuzu University Council through Dr Rex Harawa who is the Chair of Council. His email address is as copied herein,” said Chokani in an emailed response.
On maladministration, they said the management team has nothing to show for its four years in existence except for extravagance and self-enrichment through unnecessary internal and external travel allowances.
They also claimed that in 2016 the University spent millions in lost court cases, for instance, a student who was erroneously granted a degree, when in fact he had repeat courses, successfully sued Mzuni and got MK 9 million through the Sheriff’s Office in December 2016.
“University decisions are only made by two or three members of the management team while the rest have been relegated as just mere handclappers or rubber stamps. The top management’s lackluster performance is among other things shown by a high staff turnover due to frustrations and intimidations,” said a source, who is part of the senior staff.
Consequently, Mzuni staff at their meeting held on 4th January 2017 unanimously passed a vote of no confidence on the top management which is composed of Vice Chancellor Robert Ridley, Deputy Vice Chancellor Loveness Kaunda, Registrar Vyson Jegedwa, Librarian Felix Majawa, Head of Finance and Investments Anthony Saburi, Director of Research Victor Kasulo and Director of Studies Simeon Gwayi.
This follows the Council’s offer of a paltry 5 % salary increment effective 1st January 2017, which they rejected and continued their stay away until their demand for a 35% is met.
They also point out that the VC, who lives in Lilongwe and is at Mzuni for three days a week, has been using a hired car BU3692 Toyota Hilux since 2013 costing the institutions millions every month in hire charges.
Staff are also surprised that management and council say they have no money to effect salary increases yet they spend MK140 million to sponsor Mzuni FC in the elite TNM Super league. Ironically no student plays for the team and the University Registrar is the Team manager, they said.
Apparently, all the mess is happening under the watch of the finance committee and external auditors because the internal auditor was unceremoniously forced to resign after exposing financial irregularities that have dogged Mzuni for years in his reports.
“We want the University Council to replace some members of management with mature, competent and highly qualified staff as soon as possible. We now fear for our jobs because some members of the top management have openly threatened Union leaders and other staff with vengeance once the pay standoff is over,” another senior staff member told Nyasa Times on condition of anonymity.
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1998 -2011 kunali best staff pa Mzuni osati akuba alipanowa
Atumbuka sadzatheka. Yes Mzuzu University is in Mzimba North. But that is not a licence that all the senior management should be Atumbuka. See the names. If it is not Kaunda, it is Nyasulu, Kasulo, Gwayi, Gondwe etc. Atumbuka, when will you stop nepotism?
Eishiiiiii Mzuni an Institution of thieves
This is all true. My son Harawarawa Junior is there. He tells us how extravagant senior management is. What I dont understand is the role of the Chair and his board – Rex whom I have known to be a professional. In his accounting field he is one the few people I admire. How could he let gross efficiency destroy the University. Does the University have strategic direction and are management members aware of it. How is their performance measured.? What are the goals of Mzuni Football Club? A channel for siphoning money or a venue to get students physically… Read more »
MZUNI hired Ridley for prestige and supposedly to facilitate funds from overseas. Not sure if this strategy paid off. And, MZUNI knew perfectly well at that time that Ridley would want to reside in Lilongwe, rather than in the “bush”. So, there is a price for that. And you think he should be hitch hiking? Lucky he’s not renting an airplane. MZUNI faculty are betraying Dr Chiphangwi’s ethos “heavy”. He was a most unselfish person, and almost, single handedly, seriously pushed for the idea to establish MZUNI. He was a Mulanjean, but his love for this country knew no tribal… Read more »
. 1. Mzuni staff are dunderheads. Why do they have to settle for 10% when they were demanding 35%?
2. Mzuni has money , how does the VC live in Lilongwe and ride on hired car?
3.Malawians are stupid why give a post of VC to Mtsamunda when our fellow black Malawians are seeking jobs and can equally deliver
4. People surrounding the VC ndi amantha . A yes bwana.
5. Kukonderana atumbuka basi
6.Tsankho basi
Lets just man handle these bastads. Kangozi ka friendly. Kungowapha basi asa!
What we need to understand is corruption is deep rooted not only in political circles but in other instutions as well. People are just busy amassing wealth with our thinking the end result. How do u expect such instution to effect much with such a mess? You talk of nepotism which is a norm no wonder good and skilled people have been left aside hence good result is not achieved.
Collins Mtika is super. He is an investigative journalist indeed. I remember he also exposed the CEO of Mzuzu Coffee for going out with a minor. Expose them!! Keep it up
Winanso wayiwalidwa apa ndi Chief Procurement Officer Dokiso Nyasulu.Munthu uyu walemera sizinaoneke.Akakhala katundu amangogula ofoyila with inflated prices.La fourty lidzafika uzaonekela ng’amba.Watch your Back Dokiso!!!!!.