Chakwera talks tough on ‘first-degree stupidity’ ranks: Hails unsung heroes Dr Ben Chilima, Dr Dr. Miriam  Nyenje

President Lazarus Chakwera has challenged graduates in the country to provide solutions and opportunities to the country’s problems, saying “in fact, every time we meet a college  graduate, we must demand an answer to the question:  what problem are you solving for all Malawians with the  education you received?”

Chakwera: urges graduates to be agents of progressive change

Chakwera said this on Friday during the 22nd Mzuzu University (Mzuni) Congregation held virtually in the northern city of Mzuzu where he was before awarding degrees, diplomas and certificates to 1186 students in various programs.

President  Chakwera was also inaugurated as the fifth Chancellor for the university.

“The only thing worse than uselessness in an uneducated person is uselessness in an educated person, which I call first-degree stupidity,” said Chakwera, adding “ Iam  sure none of you graduating today will join those ranks,  for there are other Malawians who are leading the way in  charting a different and more useful path.”

Chakwera commended scientists who he said work tirelessly in the country to combat spread of Covid-19 pandemic, saying  this week he met two PhD holders from the Public Health  Institute of Malawi.

“One was Dr. Ben Chilima, the first Malawian man to hold  a PhD in Microbiology, and the other was Dr. Miriam  Nyenje, the first Malawian woman to hold a PhD in  Microbiology.

“The most remarkable thing about these  two academics is not that they are academics, nor is it  that they have made history by being the first of our  compatriots to specialize in that field. The most  remarkable thing about these two academics is that they  are presently and actively using their education to solve  a problem that our country has never faced before and  to prepare our country for the problems we will face tomorrow,” he said.

Chakwera said everyday, Chilima and Nyenje go into the lab  to coordinate and supervise the work of testing people  for Covid-19 across the country.

“By the end of next  month, they will have set up their lab in the capital city  with the capacity to sequence the virus that causes  Covid-19, a remarkable achievement. Under their  supervision, our Covid-19 testing sites around the  country have conducted over 193,000 tests for Covid-19  in less than one year.

“Now, can you imagine how paralysed we would be at  stopping the spread of the pandemic if these scientists  were not daily tracking the positivity rate of tests? Can  you imagine how directionless our treatment strategy  would be if these scientists were not able to distinguish  patients of Covid-19 from patients of other infections?  Can you imagine how anxious the 18,045 people who  have recovered from Covid-19 would continue to be if  these scientists were not able to test them after recovery  to assure them that they were negative?”

He stressed that the  work that  these two educated scientists and other lab technicians  under their supervision are doing is “indispensable” to the country’sfight against virus pandemic and integral to Malawi’s  winning  strategy.

“They are proof positive that the best education  is that which solves the problems society faces today  and prepares society for the problems sure to be faced  tomorrow,” he said.

President Chakwera ,who tawarded K200 000 to a graduate in Bachelor of Science Education, Muhakaye Madalitso for passing with first class, advised the gradutes that they have not been educated  to go into the world to beg it for opportunities and  solutions,  “but to go into the world to give it  opportunities and solutions. That is what it means to be  an agent of progressive change.”

He advised: “ Today, you join the  ranks of other graduates around the country leading that  change, and I congratulate you and wish you Godspeed. “

Out of the 1186 graduates, 478 are female.

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oka
oka
3 years ago

Foolish graduates will always use resources limitation as an excuse of their underperformance. Having well trained in nursing and midwifery at kcn, I found Malawian hospitals with none or very few things mentioned in books and our skills lab. I could not sit idle with patients dying and babies asphyxiated waiting for government to provide me with such required resources. I rather work with the little I have. I use my heard and education to improvise and offer to Malawian best out of my education.

Graduate No Job
Graduate No Job
3 years ago

Dr Laz should conduct an experiment on those two microbiologists.
~ Should remove all financial benefits they get
~ observe them closely if they are going to perform their duties
~Pour those benefits on a useless graduate like me.
~ compare my achievements with the achievements of those so called microbiologists
~what do you observe?

Even NASA scientists are provided with resources that’s why they are smart. Give us resources and see what we got!!!

Tizanka
Tizanka
3 years ago

And who is the chancellor of those idiots? Make mbuu, mwana. Mbuu

Manyalira Mhone
3 years ago

Chakwera ndi phwala. He has the entire status apparatus at his disposal but is failing to do anything that can uplift the lives of Malawians in tangible ways. Gwape. All he knows is just talk talk talk.

ZIOne izi
ZIOne izi
3 years ago

The president should start with his family and let them do things for themseleves instead of giving them employment at state house . I have noted Chakwera is creating his criminal enterprise at state house to steal government resources where he is appointing his inlaws and relatives to oversee a theft syndicate. Kapondamgaga and Kalumbu stole money through cross roads and nothing was done with them. The same dual spend MK10billion without any tender in what they call maintainance of state residences. This reverend is worse than the devil

Mkuwila Boys
Mkuwila Boys
3 years ago

How are they going to offer opportunities and solutions when they have been trained to beg for such. Don’t be deceived, your degree is just a mere decorated paper. Now is the time to use your brain, and your mind. Has school trained you to prepare for real life? I hope you will not be frustrated by poverty, unemployment, and jobs you hate doing.
Good luck!!!

Kudya katatu patsiku
Kudya katatu patsiku
3 years ago

His excellency the pastor loves to amuse himself in talking tough.Whatever that means.When will he act tough?

GRM
GRM
3 years ago

Eeish. Tasambwazidwa. But what opportunities can we give Malawi without resources? Capacity is a combination of three variables knowledge, skills and resources. You have knowledge and skills without resources you are nothing. Unfortunately it is Chakweras job to create opportunities for resources. But what is he doing? Nothing. Chakwera, please do not forget. We voted for you because you said you will avail resources to us through a million jobs and loans

Kalu
Kalu
3 years ago
Reply to  GRM

Human Resource. You being a human being, you are already a resource. “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”

Dausee
Dausee
3 years ago

Kwantele kwantele president!

Atokwene
Atokwene
3 years ago

Chakwera himself is the most useless educated idiot Malawi has ever had. Anthu awiri amene akuti anachita microbiology( PhD) phindu lake ndi liti a Malawi akuliona? Their friends are busy with covid 19 vaccines to be distributed ku maiko ambiri pamene iwo akuchita supervise ma nurse ogawa mankhwala a covid . That’s being too useless like mbuye wao Lazaro wa accent ya bodza. He is busy feasting on covid aid.

Chechamba
Chechamba
3 years ago
Reply to  Atokwene

Useless ndi iweyo chifukwa ukulephela kuvesesa zomwe Chakwela wafotokoza bwino lomwe.Umafuna ayankhule mu chilomwe kapena? Boma linakulephelani kuyendesa munalisya mumanja a Norman Chisale ndi Getrude.Hahahahah.

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