Students write Unima Council on Poly closure
University of Malawi Students Union (Umsu) has written the University of Malawi (Unima) Council expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of communication regarding the reopening of the Polytechnic in Blantyre.
that turned violentpoly
In a statement seen by The Nation, Umsu said it has raised the concern after waiting in vain for Unima Council to use recommendations from a meeting between Umsu and Unima senior leadership on August 17 2015 and communicate a reopening date.
Umsu, in a statement signed by general secretary Davies Jiya and president Peter Mvuma, observed that it was the university council’s “perennial tendency” to close constituent colleges of Unima as the best approach to resolve differences between students and other stakeholders.
While condemning the violent demonstrations at the Polytechnic on August 12 after college management failed to address them as earlier promised, they said closing colleges should not be the solution.
Unima registrar Benedicto Wokomaatani Malunga, speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Awareness Meeting held in Blantyre last Wednesday, said the university council was also interested in the Polytechnic’s quick opening since the academic calendar has been behind schedule.
Commenting on the apology made by the Polytechnic students through their students union, Malunga said the statement was issued following a meeting between Unima central office and Umsu. n
