Information reaching FaceofMalawi indicates that Management of the Malawi Polytechnic, a constituent college of the University of Malawi (UNIMA) has suspended four students’ union council leaders for allegedly being in the forefront in mobilising students to demonstrate on January 5 this year.
According to information at hand, the four students have been suspended for one academic year.
The four are the students’ union President Jaston Bulaula, Vice President Timothy Chembe, Secretary General Rodgers Nyirongo and Administrative Secretary, Ian Kamwendo.
Chembe confirmed of the development in an interview with Daily Times.
“The decision to meet and discuss ways of protecting their right to education was made by all Polytechnic students not an individual. Now, it is surprising that they have decided to suspend some individuals. If it is an issue to do with the meeting that students had on January 5, then they could have suspended all Polytechnic students. We will challenge the decision and ensure that justice prevails,” Chambe was quoted as saying.
The students Union leaders are accused of mobilizing students through their facebook page to meet in Blantyre on January 5, 2015 to map the way forward on the delay by management to open the School as date kept on changing.
During the meeting which took place at the time the college management was also holding a meeting with the staff welfare committee, the students agreed to wait for the college Principal or Registrar to address them on their concerns.
But the staff-management meeting took some hours which prompted some students to close the gates leading to the campus.