Five inmates who passed their 2023 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations and subsequently were admitted into different public universities still remain incarcerated and unable to proceed with their studies.
The development has prompted Centre for Human Rights, Education Advice and Assistance (Chreaa) to write to President Lazarus Chakwera expressing their concerns on the situation.
The five inmates are Godrick Nkhoma from Mzimba Prison who was selected to pursue a bachelor of arts in theology and religious studies at Mzuzu University, Paul Tembo from Lilongwe Prison who was selected to University of Malawi to pursue a bachelor of arts in humanities and Austin Chisuse from Blantyre Prison who was selected to study a bachelor of education (English Linguistics) at Domasi College of Education.
Others are George Chipwanthe from Blantyre Prison, who was selected to pursue a bachelor of Education (History and Social Studies) at Domasi College of Education and Yvonne Kalimona from Mzuzu Prison who was selected to pursue a bachelor of science in water resources engineering and management at Mzuzu University.
Kalimona is the first female inmate to achieve this feat, according to Chreaa.
In a letter dated March 6 2025 addressed to Chakwera, Chreaa executive director Victor Mhango has appealed for his intervention.
He said: “As you are aware, university policies only allow students to defer studies for only two years and it is feared they may lose their admission if they are not released considering that a year has already passed.”
He has also appealed to the President to pardon three other inmates who excelled in the 2024 MSCE examinations and were selected to different public universities.
The three are Odala Lambulira from Blantyre Prison selected to Domasi College of Education to study a bachelor of arts in history and geography, Chipiliro Mbewe Witca from the same facility has been selected to Malawi University of Science and Technology to study for a bachelor of education arts and Bicco Mzilahowa from Mzuzu Prison who has been selected to study for a bachelor of arts (Musicology) at Malawi University of Science and Technology.
On June 23 2024, Chakwera, in response to Chreaa, directed the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to follow up and provide the way forward.
Presidential press secretary Anthony Kasunda referred Nation on Sunday to the Ministry of Homeland Security Principal Secretary Steve Kayuni who could not be reached.
Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs spokesperson Frank Namangale said they have not received the letter, but when they receive such directives from the President to pardon inmates, they follow the required procedure.
He said: “We forward the names to the responsible secretariat which works with prison authorities to bring these names to the advisory committee on the granting of presidential pardon which meets to consider the names.
Namangale, however, said the committee meets periodically to recommend pardons to the President atEaster, Independence and Christmas.
