Ayuba elected Chanco students president: DPP propaganda fails

Sylvester Ayuba James has won the high-stakes Chanco Students Union presidency with an overwhelming 844 votes effectively shaming a DPP-led propaganda carried on some dubious online publications, trailing behind him are Alfred Phiri with 257 votes and Chiyembekezo Awali with 73 votes.

Speaking to Nyasa Times on his election Ayuba  thanked the Chanco student community for entrusting him with the new role and promised to dedicate himself to serving the needs of the students.

“I’m happy. And I’m sincerely thankful to the Chirunga intelligentsia for voting me into this office,” said the excited Ayuba.

“ I’m very thankful, very very thankful to them. But most of all I thank God for everything, suffice to say that I do not see this as a surprise, because every objective person could see that I have what it takes to serve the intellectual community of this college,” added Ayuba.

He said it is now the time to “redefine” Chanco, the home of academic freedom.

“ It is the time that Chanco students’ needs get prioritized. And I’m here to do just that; and I’ll give my all to it. I repeat my campaign statement that ‘our decisions define us’, so if we are to redefine ourselves, we must start by making quality decisions, the first of which is the decision about who to lead us. Chanco has just done it the best. This is, therefore, Chanco’s victory; not mine,” he said .

Ayuba laughed off reports alleging that he is an opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) sympathiser, saying he is apolitical and dismisses such assertions are cheap propaganda.

“I can’t be bought by a political party. The only people that can buy me are Chanco students. And by voting for me they’ve effectively bought me for good. Otherwise my political conscience will never be available on the market. I am a strong admirer of Mahatma Ghandi and former Chanco President, Lonjezo Sithole, and at all times I will live my leadership life according to their models,” he said.

Perhaps due to his tough intellectual stature, strong leadership principles in fighting for students’ welfare, his bid for presidency for the first time in history became a matter of national attention as pro-government online publications launched a propaganda assault on him, alleging he had pocketed a whooping MK1.3million from a collaboration of Malawi’s opposition, allegations which he strongly dismissed as ‘a bunch of political nonsense from misguided souls.’

Asked where did he get his campaign funding, Ayuba was quick to mention that his friends contributed.

“Almost every friend of mine here wanted me to become president of the union, because they know what intellectual material am made up of, so they were so eager to shoulder the whole financial burden.

“Of course I had to borrow some little bit, but I must thank my special friends for what they have been to me in this particular matter. They have been the whole world to me. I can’t express my appreciation in words.”

The media reports which alleged the MK1.3m scandal did not provide any appealing evidence apart from just throwing in unsubstantiated allegations.

There were ululations on campus by students; just moments after the election results were announced.

“He’s made it. Chanco can be Chanco now,” one female student said when asked for a comment.

“We’re hopeful he’ll deliver. And we trust he will because he speaks substance and is guided by strong selfless principles by which he also stands very strongly”, one fourth year Bachelor of Law student said.

Ayuba, a third year law student and one of the very few students performing outstandingly in his class, has an uphill task awaiting him. He will have to restore hope in needy students who are victimized for non-payment of fees.

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