If not the Chancellor then who?

At the height of the academic freedom saga in 2011 when lecturers at Chancellor College of the University of Malawi downed tools in protest over spies in the classrooms, what became most memorable was not just the absence from the country of the Minister of Education Peter Mutharika, but the then president’s failure to implore Inspector General of Police Peter Mukhito to apologise to the lecturers for summoning one of their own over a lecturer room example.

The hapless Mukhito, who the university lecturers blamed for the presence of spies who viewed lecture examples as a form of insurgency, sat there face forward, unfazed as then president Bingu wa Mutharika banged tables and proclaimed “Mukhito will not apologise. He is the best Inspector General the country has ever had.”

He was the best. Under his leadership, 20 people were shot in cold blood on 20 and 21 July of 2011. His refusal to apologise resulted in running battles between the lecturers and police and the closure of Chancellor College for over nine months.

About five years later, we have come full circle on the controversies that do not seem to escape the country’s public universities. The Polytechnic, Chancellor College and recently Mzuzu University have all closed. Thousands of students are home loitering with the future unknown.

Malawians looking up to the wise and dynamic leadership of the Chancellor of University of Malawi President Peter Mutharika were deeply disappointed this week to learn that he had no solutions.

Malawians should not be shocked that he is clueless on resolving public university challenges. How could he when in 2011 he escaped to the United States for two months fearing the heat blasting from the unrelenting lecturers.

On Wednesday, the new Chancellor categorically said no one should point fingers at him when The Polytechnic will not open its doors even after the students won the fees battle in court.

He does not mind being the ultimate authority on University of Malawi but he doesn’t want to be responsible for finding solutions to its challenges.

Malawians who queued on May 20, this statement from the President that you elected should worry you greatly. You should demand your vote back.

APM is surely being hypocritical. The universities are underfunded by his own government, by his minister and Secretary to the Treasury. How does he expect the universities to function without involving him as Chancellor?

It is the President who appoints the chairperson of University Council and putting the blame of the problems facing the universities on the council is as good and admitting that he has failed.

The chairperson and council that he expects to perform, mess up the university by dancing to the ruling party tunes. It is them who formulate policies such as quota and raising tuition fees to unbearable levels.

It is, therefore, ludicrous that when universities are faced with problems as a consequence APM says “zisandikhuze.”

After this statement, Malawians must know this: President Mutharika will head the Cabinet with portfolios responsible for ensuring hospitals have functioning ambulances and adequate stocks of drugs, but he will not be responsible for the shortages of such or even find solutions to these problems. There is a Minister of Health, who he appointed, for that.

He will head the Civil Service but he will not be responsible for the Cashgate and looting by civil servants. There is the Chief Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, who he appointed, for that.

The law can give the President all the powers under the sun, but do not expect the President to even suggest solutions to the perennial blackouts and water shortages, the boards that he appointed to do this have failed.

The statement made at the first congregation of the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) speaks volumes of the ability of the President’s leadership skills.

Malawians are expecting too much of this man. He does not have the solutions for this country.