Mutharika says he’s not responsible for Malalwi ‘varsity decisions
President Peter Mutharika has said he is not responsible for the day to day decisions of public universities where he is chancellor.
Mutharika said this on Thursday when he was inaugurated Chancellor of the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST),whose idea was conceived while he was minister of education science and technology.
Opened on October 24, 2013, MUST which has has 950 students , has so far graduated 23 undergraduates and 25 post graduate students.
The inauguration at Ndata campus in Thyolo comes at a time when four public universities remain closed due to various problems and critics are blaming the president for indecisions.
“University councils and management make decisions for the day to day running of our public universities,” he said.
Chancellor College, Polytechnic, Mzuzu University and Natural Resources College were closed for various reasons, negatively affecting the education calendar of the universities.
He said he can only intervene on public university matters when councils have failed to make decisions or resolve issues.
“I have complete confidence on the governance and structure of the public university councils,” he said.
Mutharika said that government is not there to micro-manage or impede the autonomy of universities but provide necessary guidance so that universities achieve their visions.
“The university is run by the law and by law there are establishments such as Chancellor, Council and administration. As a chancellor, my duty is to guide the vision of the university, ensure that the university has sound leadership that manages the affairs of the university on behalf of government. We can come in where there are situations where university management cannot make decisions on its own,” he added.
His comments come at a time when some public universities have been closed for six months mainly over fee hike disagreements between students and councils.
In his speech, the Malawi leader also called on citizens of the nation to start believing in themselves and do more in advancing technology and innovation.
“Science and technology used to be part of us before colonisation. We used to be more creative in making resources that helped in our day to day lives. Let’s embrace the spirit of self-independence. We must be producers and exporters of technology and not consumers and importer of other people’s technology,” said Mutharika.
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It is BETTER to ABOLISH that CRUEL & OPPRESSIVE POLICY which the Comptontroller of Statutory Corps Implemented that ‘NO INCREMENT for Statutory Corps’. That is the ONE which BRINGS PROBLEMS TOO.
If the president does not want to the responsible person he should do what other developed nations do chancellor is NEVER a whole president or prime minister. That is why the country is failing to develop kuphangila mipando which you are failing to manage. Chancellors should be some independent person who can easily interact with the university council in solving issues of this nature. Inu a president should give direction where necessary. Don’t you know what leadership is all about giving effective and correct direction. Osati direction yakuba koma developing the country. If you cannot to do quit.
Do u think APM cares Who go to scchool or not? His children or grandchildren will never come to Malawi and go in school. The man came to Malawi to live luxiouly life. Which or where have u heard a president hire a jet plane from Qatar to go and get him from USA? Do u know how many miles from Qatar to USA and back to Malawi cost? Not even Kamuzu Banda or Muluzi did that. Especially this time of economic problem with hunger can a leader Who cares for His people can Do that. Malawians what is wrong with u. Why dont u go on the Streets and demonistrate. People die everywhere for their rights. COWARDS Malawians. Catholics corrupted prisets demonistrating for life. Which life? Is it better people die with hunger. Poverty is so big in Malawi to day with Peter as a leader than His brother. Useless professor withiout political ideas. He is there on the chair but its those guru thieves Who are ruling Malawi. Malawians u have two years more to go. Shame having a leader. Who says He can not Do anything
We want the president to have less powers…but when a challenge crops up we want the president to have all the powers! Incredible that! Surely he is not the holder of all wisdom! My take is the president be it Peter or any future president should let governance structures established by law to do their job efficiently not only when it suits the President. Come on Malawi, If LUANAR is operating right now..what is worng with MZUNI, CHANCO and POLY!
DEAR MALAWIANS;
ZIKAFIKA POKANILANA TIMATI _______???
MAYI KUUZA WANA KUTI TIKUVUTJKA PAKHOMO PANO KAAMBA KA BAMBOWA
WANUWA
BAMBO NAYENSO KUUZA WANA KUTI TIKUVUTIKA PAKHOMO PANO KAAMBA
KA MAYI WANUWA
WANA AGWIRE ZIIITIZO ???
AYENDERE YOTIYO ??
NILIBE POLOBOLEMU !
MUSOVA !!
Ukukhala ngati ukuuza ana bwanji iwe bwampini? Which University Council can make decisions which are against you the “Appointing Authority”? Mxiii, uzinamiza agulugufe omwewo, enafe ayi!
he is right
the president is right
APM is right on this: we should expect Councils to resolve most issues involving these institutions. These Councils paid to do the managing. Otherwise, we should rightly ask if they are there only for prestige and to collect allowances. It is definitely wrong to expect the President, any President, to usurp the administrative responsibilities.
Furthermore, the President should stop occupying these positions, which are nothing but only titulary.
Kamuzu Banda set a bad precedent here: his assuming the Chancellor positions of every university was political; nothing else. One way to keep every one under his thumb – and everyone, including low grade lecturers knew it too. But now that we have democracy, the President should let the universities run their own shows. Until the national interest is threatened; like if the fees fiasco drags on and on. In which case, the respective Councils should be replaced. For the reason that they have failed to do their jobs; to solve critical problems.
So, it would be progressive, if APM pushed for amendments to abolish the requirement that the President should be Chancellor.
I can see some gists in your comment more especially on president leaving the leadership of chancellorship.
APM says he is not responsible then who is responsible? As a leader he can order the person or minister or question why it is like that? When he was minister of education during his brother , he did not solve the problem which is similar to what is happening now. If he can not solve the education problem when he is a president and could not solve when he was a minister then he is a failure as a leader. Education is very important for both the students and the nation. It never happened during Kamuzu Banda. Why now? Killing high education is killing the nation. Those students are growing older for every year. Delaying their education by closing schools many times makes them to start for beginning and some drop out because of economic reasons as they are financed by relatives and parents who might die during closing of schools. What is the job of ministers? Is it only corruption or do the best in their department? Shall everything be done by a president if so then we don’t need ministers. A president can not do everything. In company u have a CEO and under him it is his job to see his employee do good job otherwise he is bad bosses and has to leave job. This is not what is happening in Malawi. Jobs are given to relatives and done very bad job. In government departments sits people who should not have been there. This is the results of why Malawi is poor.
There is many things which are wrong in Malawi.
No need for a chancellor @ Unima I guess.
Did Luannar look at Mutharika to achieve their goals and the 21bn? Other university institutions should follow suit otherwise azingoguma m’miseumu.
Mr President you are responsible for inaugural ceremony not otherwise.
shiapato zako wamva iwe ndaniniwe? bwamp….
chindele chakufikapo