Malawi Police arrest 11 Chanco students for leading anti-fee hike demo

Malawi Police in Zomba have arrested about 11  students from Chancellor College, a constituent college of the University of Malawi (Unima) in Zomba, for being suspected of playing a big hand in planning, execution and leading the anti-fee hike demonstrations.

Identities of the students include  Hazel Chiomba, Sithembile Shawa, Glory Mwakaileke, Ellen banda, Martha Sani, Chimwemwe Msosa Caroline Njete, Yamikani Bema,  Tinenenji Kabudula and  Hope Phiri.

Students going back to campus after polic broke them from going into Zonba town
Students going back to campus after polic broke them from going into Zonba town

Earlier police fired tear gas to the demonstrators which the University authorities described them as illegal.

University of Malawi Students Union (Umsu) president Tionge Sikwese said they held demonstrations to force the university council to reverse the fee hike.

Unima council recently announced that mature entry students will be paying tuition fees ranging from K900 000 ($1249) to K1.4 million ($1 942), first year generic students will pay fees in the range of K400 000 ($555) to K600 000 ($833) while continuing students will pay K400 000 per annum.

But authorities said the students didn’t follow the right procedures.

Zomba District commissioner wrote UMSU barring them from holding the demonstrations, saying their notifications  did not satisfy “mandatory preliminary requirements.”

Police said they have made arrests because protestors turned violent.

The students tussled with the police who fired teargas to disperse them.

Meanwhile,  Chancellor College principal, Richard Tambulasi, said in a statement that management is following the development closely ensuring that college property and welfare of both staff and students is protected.

He said however in the event that the property has been destroyed, “the college shall have no option but to hold all students responsible for the act.”

The principal has since advised students who need assistance regarding security to contact university authorities.

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che chiuja
7 years ago

Thats not fair the fee is just too high doesnt match with malawians standard living…. and also all those arrested seem to be ladies you they are only who led the demos?a woman leading demo?nde gender yafika pa zero2

Headteacher
7 years ago

bwana Richard Tambulasi, closing the shool is the easy way out. How many times has the college been closed due disaagreements with students? and how many times has that solved anything apart from lengthy periods of inactivity? University management needs to grow up and find better ways of resolving these conflicts with pupils.

come for a staff meeting……..

Uneji Palikundu
Uneji Palikundu
7 years ago

the master minders are ladies…really..? kapena these are the scapegoats…dziko likuyendetsedwa ndi agalu ndithu…

Douglas Ndindi
Douglas Ndindi
7 years ago

Education is becoming a privilege for the chosen few. These days, to go far with education in Malawi, what you need is not sharp a brain but a very deep pocket. No wonder the country is failing to perform in almost all areas of life. It’s because we are putting in our offices many educated people who don’t have much in terms of brains despite their education.

Kanyamakena Kamodzi Kingsley

This fee is too high to afford, how about mwana wa nkafa siyanji kumudzi kwathu kwa Govalaku ndiye atani poti chaka chinonso zokolora ndiye kulibe. This is prohibiting way of your low standard education you guys in Malawi. In other countries such education is high with low fee, vuto lanu ndi chiani a Malawi? Anthu wophunzirawo mukuwalipiranso ya mwana yodyera ku secondary. Pliz, the government must look into this account otherwise the savageness grows high and Tomasi Chibade azingosavegizer ali pheeeeee!

SILLY POLICE
SILLY POLICE
7 years ago

ARE YOU SURE THESE ARE THE MASTER MINDERS? THESE ARE INNOCENT PEOPLE YOU JUST WANT TO USE THEM AS SACRAFICIAL LAMB FOR DPP THIS MONTH OF JULY

ADE
ADE
7 years ago

SET THEM FREE THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG. BY THE WAY TOMORROW IS 20 JULY.

mateyu
7 years ago

These are High school students who were on their way to flats, not that they were master minders. These students in their stupidity thought that if they tell the police they were not taking part in the demo the police would listen to them. Sizoona kuti they were master minders you can see that they are all ladies.

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