Unima delinking date set

Government has finally set May 4 this year to have the University of Malawi (Unima) delinked.

According to a statement signed by acting secretary for Ministry of Education, Raphael Agabu, the three universities are expected to start their operations by set date and Chancellor College would be known as University of Malawi, The Malawi Polytechnic would be known as Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (Mubas) and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Kuhes)—a merger of College of Medicine and Kamuzu College of Nursing.

The ministry said it has re-organised a transition unit to be chaired by Professor Emmanuel Kaunda. The other members are Dr. Phillip Kaonda, Dr. Tasokwa Kakota-Chibowa, Dr. Asyatu Chiweza, Dr. MacPhail Magwira and director of higher education in the Ministry of Education.

“You may wish to note that gazetting of the respective Act Nos. 18, 19 and 20 of 2019that established the universities and the commencement date is at an advanced stage,” reads the letter by Agabu.

The Tonse Alliance administration endorsed the delinking of Unima.

This decision came after a series of discussion Vice-President Saulos Chilima had with stakeholers

Government said the delinking of Unima is a progressive process in increasing access to higher education and improving governance and operational efficiency in public universities in Malawi.

Council of Unima earlier voted to suspend the creation of the independent universities, claiming that a 2017 decision authorising the process was not in line with Malawian law at the time and, hence, was ultra vires.

But this was after government had secured legislation last year to authorise this long-running project. Government reversed the decision by the council.