Malawi President Mutharika faces nationwide protests Thursday: University fees must fall

It never rain but pours for Peter Mutharika led-government amid the controversial University of Malawi (UNIMA) fee hike as 10 civil society organisations have organized nationwide protests as a desperate attempt to force President Peter Mutharika as UNIMA Chancellor to veto decisions that have culminated into the current stalemate.

Kajoloweka: We will take to the streets
Kajoloweka: We will take to the streets
students-ask-for-mutharikas-intervention-in-fees-hike
students-ask-for-mutharikas-intervention-in-fees-hike

The protests will be held on Thursday 4th August, 2016 according to a statement released on Tuesday and signed by Charles Kajoloweka, Executive Director, Youth and Society (YAS).

Speaking in an interview, one of the organisers  Negracious Justin, acting executive director for Youth with Vision said they demand for a non-implementation of the current hiked fees by the Unima Council and immediate re-opening of Chancellor College.

The protests will be held against the UNIMA state of the academic affairs, fees hike and the closure of the Chancellor College, according to the statement.

“We, the undersigned Civil Society Organizations, under the coordination of Youth and Society (YAS) are deeply concerned and embittered by the current shocking state of affairs that have cropped up at Malawi’s public institutions of learning.

“We condemn government’s decision to raise tuition fees and to close Chancellor College indefinitely in the strongest possible terms, and unanimously call for immediate reversal of these unrealistic decisions,” Kajoloweka said.

The protests will take place in four Malawi’s cities which include Zomba, Mzuzu, Lilongwe and Blantyre at 9 am.

In Mzuzu, the protest will start at Katoto Secondary School ground via Mzuzu tower and high court roundabout and then deliver the petition at Mzuzu city civil office and it will led by Kajoloweka.

In Lilongwe, KCN roundabout via Parliamentary and, then turn right via City Centre roundabout and proceed to Capitol Hill to deliver the petition to Minister of Education led by Billy Mayaya.

In Blantyre, the petition will be presented to the civil offices and it will start at Kamuzu Stadium via Chipembere highway led by Negrecious Justin.

While in Zomba the petition will be delivered at the district council led by Chifuno Mbale starting from the community ground via Mponda primary school.

Among the demands, the CSOs want government to immediately reopen Chancellor College and reverse the implementation of the current hiked fees.

The CSOs include Youth and Society (YAS), Youth with Vision (YWV), Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation, Centre for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance (CHREAA), Centre for Development of the People (CEDEP), Centre for Youth Development (CYD), Youth Watch Society and renown human rights activist Billy Mayaya.

Meanwhile, Mutharika is expected to meet with the UNIMA students’ union leaders on the same day and discuss the issues the CSOs have raised.

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ngalamayi
ngalamayi
7 years ago

President Muthalika hires a private jet at taxpayers’ expense to collect a worthless certificate from Addis, yet he forces a huge fee increase on students for whom their education means their future lives, the benefit of Malawi! He calls himself a leader??!! All strength and courage to the protesters… keep it up!

Samsung Nokia
7 years ago

eeeeeeeh mkazi ali nkukamwa uyu

mambulumambulu
mambulumambulu
7 years ago

Kajoloweka you’re putting a good agenda but dont stop doing it for personal interests we know the real of you,we hv played the game together … do not back bite malawian youths..

Winston Msowoya
Winston Msowoya
7 years ago

We Malawians in diaspora strongly and unequivocally support you in your endeavours to defend your human rights.Let Muthalika and his servile puppies shit in their pants and never again to underrate people’s strength and resolve and your endeavours or efforts,will set you free.Peter and his late rogue brother Bingu had been misguided in thinking that Malawians were cowards and backward people,no,they both made treacherous and miscalculated adventure.As Iam writing this piece,corrupt and tribalistic leaders in Zimbabwe,Congo and Uganda are facing concerted revolts by their own citizens whom they had taken for granted.Once again,we strongly support you for your unrelenting courage… Read more »

REUBEN HAMI
REUBEN HAMI
7 years ago

Government should listen to our concerns…we (mature students) cant manage to pay k950 000 per academic year…talk of transport to school, accommodation, lunch plus stationary…no thats too much for us Mr. president…government is increasing our salaries with 10% yet you increase our fees with more that 300% ….come on ….there is no logic…my annual salary is less than 1million kwacha yet you want me to pay k950 000…so how can i survive? simple mathematics

Maunisi
Maunisi
7 years ago

We don’t have president in Malawi. This guy is decision-driven guy. He does not even see the implication of such decision at hand.

Dr Mbilixi
Dr Mbilixi
7 years ago

Akweze yakwawo ku ndata. zanu

Central
Central
7 years ago

Surprisingly, almost everybody in this Government enjoyed Kamuzu’s free tertiary education!! Now instead of borrowing a leaf from those who know how Kamuzu did it, all these guys want is any money left in the pockets of the “thin cows” (the poorest of the poor) and the reason is nothing than to “cashgate” whatever will be generated from that scheme basi!! Koma akanganya inu ndalama zinakufikani pa mbebeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! To some of us, all we are wondering is that seriously if you were able to (a) divert K1.3 billion just to save Sterling, (b) divert K6 billion from MSB just to… Read more »

Patrick Phiri
Patrick Phiri
7 years ago

Education is not cheap mafana inu. Only loafers will join the useless and futile protests.

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