MCP MP praises ‘genius leader’ Bakili Muluzi: ‘University of Malawi never closed indefinately’

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) lawmaker gave a rare praise to first president of Malawi’s multi-party democracy Bakili Muluzi, saying though he did not see the corridors of University of Malawi but he valued higher education and had a solution when there was academic crisis.

Dowa East Member of Parliament, Richard Chimwendo-Banda  was adding his voice to the barrage of criticism  in the National Assembly leveled against Minister of Education, Science and Technology Emmanuel Fabiano on the continued closure of Chancellor College, a constituent college of the University of Malawi (Unima).

The opposition MPs queried government inaction on the closure of  Chancellor College following a staff strike which has left the college closed since March 2017.

And lecturers at Malawi Polytechnic, another constituent college of Unima have resolved to down tools by July 1 to join their Chanco counterparts.

Several legislators said government officials were not caring for the welfare of the students because their children are sent abroad for tertiary education.

“Though people said  Bakili Muluzi was not educated [by Unima], Dr Bakili  Muluzi never allowed this to happen,” said Chimwendo- Banda.

“That man [Muluzi]  was genius,” he added.

“People said Bakili Muluzi never to [university] but he valued higher education., he learned from Kamuzu Banda,” he said.

Muluzi was a charismatic leader who previously served as secretary general  and administrative secretary during 31 years of the deposed MCP dictatorship.

He revolted against Kamuzu just in time to join the pro-democracy bandwagon, ruling the country from 1994 to 2004.

Adding her voice to the matter, Dedza East’s Juliana Lunguzi (MCP)  described the situation as academic crisis.

“What we have is education crisis in this country,” said Lunguzi.

“I was with him in Brussels listening his speech prioritising education yet Chancellor College  was closed,. He even went to Oxford Union and said the same,” said Lunguzi.

Lunguzi also blasted  Minister of Education, Science and Technology Emmanuel Fabiano for sleeping on the job.

“The Minister of Educations hould  sit here , he should go oput and solve the crisis,” said Lunguzi.

Fabiano was Vice Chancellor at Chanco during  the academic freedom saga.

Talks between Chanco management and Chanco Academic Staff Union as well as Unima Council have failed to break the deadlock on the differences.

 

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