Unilia closes over staff strike

University of Livingstonia (Unilia) has closed down two colleges following a strike by academic and non-academic workers demanding a 60 percent pay hike and better working conditions.

Yesterday morning, management of the university, owned by CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, ordered students to vacate Ekwendeni and Robert Laws campuses in Mzimba.

The students were at liberty to stay put for one week if necessary, the announcement shows.

Unilia staff downed tools on Friday, demanding higher perks and dismissal of vice-chancellor Professor Yohane Nyasulu, registrar Peter Kayira and finance officer Francis Kumwenda.

Robert Laws Students Union president Brian Yiwombe confirmed in an interview that students were sent packing.

He said: “We have been told to leave the campus today and many students are leaving. The system is not working. Our hostels are not cleaned. We do not have water and access to health care. But we have also been told that we can stay on the campus hoping the issue will be resolved by next week.”

The synod’s general secretary the Reverend Levi Nyondo and moderator the Reverend John Gondwe were reportedly in a meeting when we called to hear their side of the story. n