More pupils protest, TUM yet to verify leave grants
Primary school pupils in Lunzu, Blantyre, yesterday blocked the M1 Road in protest against the authorities’ continued non-payment of leave grants.
The pupils’ action followed similar protests on Monday by their counterparts in Blantyre City, Balaka and Ntcheu.
Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM), which called the nationwide strike for its 70 000-strong membership of public primary and secondary school teachers from last week Monday, yesterday said it was yet to verify with district councils on whether the leave grants have been processed.
TUM said government communicated to the union yesterday that the leave grants had been remitted as Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe promised in Parliament on Monday.
In an interview yesterday, TUM general secretary Charles Kumchenga, while maintaining that the strike will continue, said they will send their representatives to the said district councils from today to verify Gondwe’s pledge.
The teachers have been on strike following failure by government to give them their leave grants for the 2016/17 fiscal year.
Following the strike, learners from some public primary schools in Blantyre, Ntcheu and Balaka have been engaging in demonstrations in protest against their teachers continued strike.
Yesterday, pupils from Lunzu Catholic and Nansengwe primary schools blocked the M1 Road at Lunzu Trading Centre, pelting passers-by with stones, forcing motorists to use alternative by-pass roads.
The riots left three police officers wounded and 10 people arrested for malicious damage.
Chileka Police spokesperson Grace Mwale, in an interview, confirmed about the injuries sustained by the three police officers, but could not divulge more information.
On Monday, police in Ntcheu arrested 23 people, including nine pupils, for conduct likely to cause breach of peace in the course of their protests. Yesterday, the 23 were yet to be taken to court for plea and bail applications.
