Minister of Transports and Public Works, Sidik Mia has disclosed that plans to open an Islamic university in the country to promote modern education among Muslims will be rolled out soon with support from Direct Aid Society from Kuwait.

Mia, who is People’s Party Vice President (South), said this on Saturday when he took Mangochi district by storm when he visited Mangochi Boma Sub Mosque on Friday, 27th April, 2013.

There are currently church-run universities which include the African Bible College, the Livingstonia University owned by Church of Central Africa Presbytery, Seventh Day Adventist University and Catholic University.

There are also three state universities: the University of Malawi, with five constituent colleges and Mzuzu University.

Mia said he and other influential Muslims in the country have sought assistance from Direct Aid Society of Kuwait to help in building the university which would also seek to provide Islamic education to anyone interested and would welcomes students with an interest in Islam from among the larger non-Muslim community, and even offer them a chance to earn a degree in Islamic studies.

The opening of more universities in Malawi is likely to reduce the stampede for university places among students from different regions. This resulted in state-run universities introducing an unfair quota system based on a student’s place of origin.

The establishment of the university which was promoted by former Head of State, Bakili Muluzi. has courted controversy as the working committee that was formed to initiate the project demanded   Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) not to be involved.

The committee was formed in 2008 at Muluzi’s residence at BCA in Blantyre with Dr Mustafa Hussein as its chairperson and Sheikh Mustapha Ayami as coordinator.

Donation

Mia during the visit made money donation money amounting to over K2.5 million towards building projects of additional school blocks at the primary school under the Sub Mosque.

The Minister, who is Vice President of the Muslim Association of Malawi Board, also donated money towards the building project at Mathanjesi Mosque within Mangochi Boma.

“I call upon the Muslim community to embrace the spirit of helping the needy,” he said.

Mia thanked the country’s leadership for making sure that people of different religious orientation are coexisting in the country.

“We all have the common purpose of seeing Malawi as a country develop and through the right leadership this is possible. Leaders need our support,” he said.

The Muslim Women Association, students and Peoples Party followers and many other people of good joined the Muslim community in the district accorded a grand welcome.

The Minister’s powerful message focused a special call to the worthy Muslims to realize the importance of assisting towards the growth of Islam and as well join hands in assisting the needy.

This is not the first time the Minister has donated towards similar developmental projects in Mangochi and other districts across the country.