Students protest against university closures
Mzuzu University (Mzuni) and The Polytechnic students on Wednesday marched to Mzuzu City Council (MCC) singing songs in protest against closures of their respective institutions.
Mzuni was closed on November 7 2016 following a strike by academic and non-academic staff over salaries while The Polytechnic’s opening for the 2016/17 academic year was postponed following a disagreement over hiked fees.
The students, most of whom were dressed in red attire, marched peacefully from Mzuni to MCC where they presented a petition addressed to Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) signed by Mzuzu University Students Representative Council (Muscrec) president Wazamazama Katatu, Polytechnic Students Union president Frank Mchupuka and Youth And Society executive director Charles Kajoloweka.
During the march, the students chanted and called upon former president Joyce Banda and South Africa-based Malawian prophet Shepherd Bushiri to rescue them, claiming the Peter Mutharika administration has let them down.
Through the petition, the students want MHRC to intervene on the matter, saying government’s handling of the matter is violating their rights.
The students claimed there is political intimidation and lack of commitment to peaceful settlement of disputes. n
