Mzuni students told to refrain from blocking roads

Mzuzu University Students’ Representative Committee (Musrec) has asked students to refrain from blocking roads and vandalising property when staging a protest, saying such acts will never pay fees for needy students

Musrec president Moses Chalera said this on Tuesday after some students at Mzuzu University (Mzuni) blocked the Mzuzu-Karonga M1 Road to force authorities pay school fees and stationery allowance for 200 students who were denied loans by the Malawi Savings Bank (MSB) under the public universities loan scheme.

The students went on the rampage before management asked them to pay fees or leave campus. Last month, the students petitioned President Joyce Banda on their problems.

It took the presence of armed police to calm the situation.

Chalera said the student union will not defend or come to the rescue of students who are caught in such acts, saying contact and dialogue are the best means of lobbying for support.

Mzuni acting registrar Yonam Ngwira said the students were only bringing confusion at the campus as no one asked them to leave.