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.

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.