11 KCN students out on bail, plead not guilty to proposing violence:  University of Malawi anti-fee hike protest

The Lilongwe Magistrate Court has freed on bail 11 students from Kamuzu College of Nursing (KCN) who were arrested for holding protests over the fees hike in the University of Malawi (Unima).

The students are demanding that the raise of the fees should be reasonable, suggesting that those who pay K55 000 should not have their fees raised beyond K100 000 whereas those paying K275 000 should not have their fees raised beyond K300 000.

The students were arrested as they blocked motorists from getting into   Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) premises.

They have been slapped with a charge of proposing violence which is contrary to Section 87 of the Penal code.

All the students told Magistrate Shyreen Yona that they deny the charge.

Police senior supritendant, Cecilia Zaganga, prosecuting, said they will parade witnesses during the trial.

In granting bail, the Magistrate ordered the students to produce non-cash bond but given reporting orders to Lilongwe police station every fortnight.

So far  students from all University of Malawi’s  four constituent colleges— Chanco, the Polytechnic, KCN and College of Medicine (CoM) have held  protests against the fee hike.