Unima Council ratifies university delinking
The University of Malawi (Unima) Council yesterday endorsed the delinking of College of Medicine, Kamuzu College of Nursing and The Polytechnic from the University of Malawi (Unima).
The move followed a go-ahead President Peter Mutharika, who is Unima chancellor, gave the council for the Unima unbundling process to begin.
In a press statement signed by Unima Council chairperson Dr James Maida, the decision follows what was agreed at the council’s extraordinary meeting held in Zomba yesterday.
He said subsequently, the council’s resolution has been endorsed by Mutharika.
Reads the statement in part: “Council of the University of Malawi, exercising its powers as provided in Section 10(j) of the Unima Act, resolved that the College of Medicine, Kamuzu College of Nursing and the Polytechnic be delinked from Unima.”
According to Maida, an independent task force is being constituted to oversee the delinking process.
“Until the process has been finalised, Unima will continue as one entity,” it reads.
Commenting on the issue, Chancellor College associate professor of law Edge Kanyongolo said he is optimistic that the delinking process will not take long, saying amending the Unima Act and appointing new leadership cannot take years.
The delinking of the three colleges will be the second after Bunda College of Agriculture was delinked from the university in 2011 which merged with Natural Resources College to form Lilongwe Unversity of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar).
Stupidest move by a country. Now the original UNIMA will be split up into banana republic type glorified high schools. Some individuals will no doubt immensely increase their stature within the so-called universities, but overall the country is the loser.