Sheriffs impound Mzuni truck over K2m legal costs
Sheriffs in Mzuzu have impounded a truck belonging to Mzuzu University (Mzuni) after the institution failed to settle K2 million legal costs a student from Namibia incurred in challenging his withdrawal from the university.
The vehicle, a Nissan UD truck registration 57 SC 10, used for various operations at Mzuni, is now parked at the High Court Mzuzu Registry premises.
The student, Hidulika Festus Shiweda, a forestry programme upgrader, was withdrawn from Mzuni last year on academic grounds, but his grades were not properly reconciled.
According to the student’s lawyer, Mustafa Amidu, Mzuni did not add some of his mid-term grades to the final assessment which saw the student not meeting the required grades.
Shiweda then took Mzuni to court and sought judicial review of the matter. The court granted move for judicial review and the student filed necessary documents for the case, but Mzuni failed to file documents.
Mzuzu-based High Court judge Dingiswayo Madise entered a default judgement against Mzuni for failing to file documents.
He ordered Mzuni to handle Shiweda’s academic assessment before commencement of the next semester and also meet legal costs incurred by the student.
Mzuni vice-chancellor Robert Ridley said he could not comment on why the university failed to respect the court order and pay legal costs because the university is challenging the matter in court.
