University Council has shifted dates of the reopening of Chancellor College (Chanco), a constituent college of the University of Malawi (Unima) over the looming strike by academic staff.

This has been disclosed in a press statement made available to FaceofMalawi signed by CHANCO registrar Mary Wasiri.

According to the statement, classes were scheduled to start on March 20, 2017 the same day Chanco Academic Staff Union (Ccasu) has planned to start a strike to force government to increase their salaries.

“To this effect, Ccasu has already filed to the Ministry of Labour a seven-day notice to start striking on 20th March 2017 in the 40 percent salary issue.

“Considering the implications of this, an emergency meeting of Deans Committee held today, 15th March 2017, agreed not to bring students on campus until the issue is resolved,” reads in part the statement.

Meanwhile it is not known as to when the college will be reopened.