Malawi Science University, Mzuni shut down indefinitely

The Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST)  and Mzuzu University  (Mzuni ) have been closed on Monday.

MJUST student ver the closure of a campus that has left staff “utterly demoralise
MJUST student  hold demo over the closure of a campus that has left  them utterly demoralised

MUST was  shut down  “due to scarcity of water on campus” according to University registrar Dr Tarcisius Nampota.

Nampota said the water problem is a result of the breakdown of the water pumps that supply the campus in Thyolo.

“Management has resolved to close the campus temporarily,” Nampota said.

Students were told to leave the campus on Monday and that management will  communicate the date when the nuiversity shall resume.

Elsewhere, Mzuzu University  has  been shut down until further notice following a directive by management as there is a withdraw of labour by academic dons and support staff.

The management ordered on Monday that the institution  be closed and ordered the students to leave.

Members of Mzuzu University Academic Staff Union (Muasu) and Mzuni Non-academic Staff Trade Union (Munastu) started the strike three weeks ago after the Industrial Court vacated the injunction obtained by the University management restraining the staff on embarking on the strike.

Munastu  president Gruno Muyola said they will only resume work if the university meets their demand

“In view of these developments and noting that sanitation and health related services on campus will continye to be negatively affected, Council has requested that all students vacate the campus by 5pm on Tuesday  November 8th 2016, until further notice,” a memorandum issued by University Registrat Jedegwa reads.

Mzuni Student Union President Wazamazama Katatu said the closure will affect the students greatly considering that they were preparing for examinations.

Katatu also said the closure will affect the academic calendar for the institution.

Mzuni staff salaries have not been increased in two years, and they are demanding a 35 percent increment. Muasu and Munastu members first wrote the university’s authorities on August 2 2016 stating that they would go on a sit-in on August 23 2016 if management failed to raise their salaries.

On August 5, the university’s administration responded with a recommendation that both parties follow the law and work together to appoint a broker in line with Section 44 (2) of the Labour Relations Act.

However, the reconciliatory efforts collapsed, forcing the unions to issue a fresh notice on October 6, that they would withdraw labour on October 14.

Mzuni management responded by referring the dispute to the IRC for guidance, arguing that the action by the unions of giving notice to withdraw labour was not compliant with Section 46 as read with Section 44 of the Labour Relations Act (1996).

But Muasu and Munastu, through lawyer Christon Ghambi, asked the court to consider the respondents’ members’ salaries, which have not been adjusted for two years.

Deputy chairperson of the IRC in Mzuzu, Austin Msowoya, ruled that the two staff unions are at liberty to proceed with their withdrawal of labour.

 

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bunda
bunda
7 years ago

I salute prof kanyama for your leadership skills

nyasaland
nyasaland
7 years ago

The whole university of science and technology failing to come up with solution to solve the problem of water up to resorting to closure of the university. Its a shame tech gurus and tell me how you are goig to solve pressing issues that the country is facing ngati mukukanika kukumba mijigo yamakono

Lexxie
Lexxie
7 years ago

So you mean the whole tech institution cannot come out with technological means to generate water from the ground? SHAME poor minded mapwevupwevu proffesors

gulugunya
gulugunya
7 years ago

THis is what Tumbukas are good at. Taking each and everything from political point of view. Ypu are highly paid and why fwefwefwefwe?

ANALYST
ANALYST
7 years ago
Reply to  gulugunya

Muli nkhani ya a Tumbuka umu?? Koma aMalawi tinakhala bwanji kodi? Chidani chimenechi dziko lingatukuke??? Nkhani ndi yoti Mzuzu University komanso Malawi University of Science and Technology atseka chifukwa cha nkhani ya ma salaries komanso kusowa kwa madzi, respectively – inu mukuti a Tumbuka??? Zoona izi??? Mmmmmm dziko lino timangopanga claim kuti ndi la bata ndi mtendere – muno muli nkhondo osati masewera!!!!!

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