Two prisoners selected to university

Two prisoners from Zomba and Maula prisons are among the 1 909 students selected to two of the Malawi’s four public universities, the University of Malawi (Unima) and Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar).

According to the selection list released by Unima, Brighton Moses Mathaula from Zomba Central Prison has been selected to pursue a Bachelor of Accountancy at the Polytechnic, a Unima constituent college.

On the other hand, Thomas Chafera from Maula Prison in Lilongwe has been selected to study a Bachelor of Science in Crop Improvement at Luanar’s Bunda College.

Chafera scored 20 points and is serving an eight-year armed robbery sentence. He is due for release in 2015.

Mathaula, according to sources close to him, is serving a 14-year prison sentence for theft by public servant. He was convicted and sentenced in 2010.

He is due for release in 2019. He scored 18 points in the 2012 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations.

Malawi Prisons spokesperson Evans Phiri confirmed the selection of the two.

He said the Malawi Prison Service entered into an agreement with the public universities that places for the convicts that excel in the University Entrance Examinations should be reserved if the convicts are still serving their sentences.

Civil Society Education Coalition executive director Benedicto Kondowe hailed the selection of the two. He said it demonstrates that being convicted does not imply inability to pursue education ambitions.

Last week, Unima and Luanar released names of students selected to study various programmes at their constituent colleges.

At least 11 539 students sat for the entrance examinations. Of these, 10 328 made the grade, but only 1 909 students were selected due to limited space.