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Unima students pen Chakwera

University of Malawi (Unima) students have penned President Lazarus Chakwera to act on their concern that the current academic calendar, which was implemented by Unima management, is long and illogical upon its adoption.

The students calling themselves ‘Unima Concerned Students’ led by Humble Bondo marched from the Unima Campus yesterday, escorted by armed and civilian police officers to deliver their petition to Chakwera through the Zomba District Commissioner (DC) Smart Gwedemula.

Gwedemula (L) receives petition from Bondo

In the petition, the students say that they need a timely solution and update on their academic calendar, blaming the administration of paying a deaf ear to their concerns.

Reading part of the petition before presenting it to the DC, Bondo said that on September 9 2022 the students petitioned the administration through the dean of students on the implementation of the new academic calendar, which estimates that continuing students need to be on holiday for at least six months.

The students have stressed in the petition that the administration is playing delaying tactics in sorting out the calendar issue, claiming it is two months since the calendar issue was raised.

The petitioners also blame the administration for capturing the current students’ representative council (SRC), so that it is not vigilant in pushing for the academic calendar review.

The students have asked the President to intervene so that the 2021 and 2022 cohorts are merged with the continuing students in January 2023.

Gwedemula acknowledged receiving the petition and assured that he will deliver it to the authorities for action.

In reaction, Unima registrar Mary Wasili acknowledged that the protests took place but rejected the protesters.

“The university structure recognises the voice of SRC only, and not any other,” she said.

Eastern Region police spokesperson Joseph Sauka detailed that despite ugly scenes that started after delivering petition, when the protesters wanted to storm the city centre, police prevented them from causing havoc.

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