Students from Mzuzu University and Polytechnic, a constituent college of the University of Malawi (UNIMA) have asked for the immediate resignation of President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika as Chancellor of public universities for failing to intervene on the challenges rocking the said institution.

The call comes barely days after opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) led by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Spokesperson Dr. Jessie Kabwila also asked for the immediate resignation of Minister of Education Science and Technology Emmanuel Fabiano.

Speaking during a joint media briefing held in the capital Lilongwe on Wednesday, Polytechnic Students Union (PSU), Mzuzu University Students Union (MUSREC) and civil society group, Youth And Society (YAS) said they are not happy with how Mutharika is handling the university saga.

Student Unions described the President’s approach to the saga as “lack of political will and political leadership in dealing with the current academic crisis by his regime.”

“It’s either the President, who is the Chancellor of the universities, owns the mess and stand up to clear it up or he honourably step down with immediate effect to pave way for progress. That’s what happens in a democracy.

“We want the president to wake up from his slumber and intervene in the wrangle at the institution so that the college should be reopened.” PSU president Frank Mchupuka said.

MUSREC president Wazamazama Katatu added that the President ‘disowned’ his role as their chancellor when he distanced himself from the saga when he addressed the nation on Monday evening; arguing university councils, and not him, should deal with the mess.

Meanwhile students have announced plans to hold joint nationwide civil protests next week in attempts to force government address the stalemate which saw the two public institutions fail to open. The peaceful demonstrations have been slotted for November 30.