Unima delinking process taking shape
The taskforce overseeing the delinking of colleges under the University of Malawi (Unima) has expressed optimism that the process will be finalised in four months time.
Chairperson of the taskforce McPhail Magwira said in an interview on Tuesday, they have made tremendous progress including finishing the drafting of a bill on the delinking and will soon be discussing its contents with the colleges involved.
Magwira further said after meeting the colleges, the taskforce will then take the bill to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to process it and then take it to Parliament.
“Currently, we are waiting for funding in the new financial year. We were given six months to finalise the whole process but the process delayed somehow. We are optimistic that after we get funding, the whole process will be finalised within four months,” said Magwira.
Speaking earlier, Unima spokesperson Alfred Banda said the university is waiting on the taskforce for modalities and direction towards the delinking process.
Education activists have been advocating for the restructuring of Unima describing it as significant in enhancing educational growth which among them include high standards of academic leadership, financial independence, strong and world-class research as well as world-class academia.
In August last year, the Unima council endorsed the delinking of College of Medicine, Kamuzu College of Nursing and The Polytechnic from Unima.
The move followed a go-ahead President Peter Mutharika, who is Unima chancellor, gave the council for the Unima delinking to begin.
For the whole delinking processes to be finalised, there is need to amend the Unima Act and appoint new leadership in the newly established universities.
The delinking of the three colleges will be the second after Bunda College of Agriculture was delinked from the university in 2011 which merged with Natural Resources College to form Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar).
