Description

Lecturers at Chancellor College, the main constituent college of the University of Malawi marches to Eastern Police headquarters on Monday to present a petition to Inspector General of Police against ‘political threats and intimidation’ of academic staff.

The lectures have been on sit-in strike after the police chief, Peter Mukhito interrogated a political science lecturer, Dr. Blessings Chinsinga, over an example he allegedly gave during a class.

Inspector General Mukhito: Interrogated lecturer

Kabwila-Kapasula: Mukhito should apologise

Chinsinga ­- Associate Professor of the Department of Political and Administrative Studies (PAS) at Chancellor College – is alleged to have given examples of reasons for popular protests in Egypt and Tunisia. He linked that revolution in the north African countries to the fuel and forex crisis that is currently hitting Malawi.

Police confirmed the lectures have been granted permission to march “peacefully” and present their petition.

The petition by Chancellor College Academic Staff Union (CCASU) signed by president Jessie Kabwila-Kapasula seen by Nyasa Times says academic staff “in exercise of the rights, duties, and responsibilities of the Malawi citizens as enshrined in the Malawi Constitution, and desirous of enjoying academic freedom as provided for in Section 33 of the Constitution” are outraged with police chief’s conduct “aimed at stifling academic freedom- the very ideal of a university.”

“As academics, we state that your actions constitute a gross violation of academic freedom as provided for in Section 33 of the Republic of Malawi Constitution, as well as Section 34 on freedom of opinion, Section 35 on freedom of expression, Section 37 on access to information, and Section 25 on access to education. We condemn your action in the strongest terms possible,” reads the petition which has also been copied to Minister of Education.

The academic staff also noted that Police chief’s action was based on information passed on by “informers planted in our lecture rooms.”

Reads the petition: “We urge you not to remind us of the repressive and oppressive politically-driven police practices of the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s that turned the University of Malawi into a reservoir for political detainees. The result was among others, the massive brain drain that crippled the national University and has not been remedied.

“We do not need to state that the University of Malawi and the nation at large lost distinguished scholars and intellectuals who could have greatly contributed to the development of the country. We vehemently refuse every effort to take us back to those days!”

The petition says an environment that supports free thought, open discussion and debate on matters of societal development is central to the mission of any university, any educational institution and society.

“We maintain that academic freedom must be defended for all including those with unpopular and/or controversial views. Sanctions against free and open exchange of ideas are a threat not only to academic freedom but also to the quality of education at all levels.

“Even more regrettable is the intimidation and harassment of Associate Professor Chinsinga, and by extension, all academics and intellectuals, inherent in your action,” reads the petition.

The lectures informs the Police boss in the petition that the academic members of staff have stopped teaching because of fear and therefore demand Mukhito to commit himself to the respect and protection of academic freedom assuring them in writing that “no such actions shall be repeated by you, personally, your agents, or any other authority connected with your office.”

Lectures also demand an apology from Inspector General of Police to the Chancellor College community for the “unnecessary disruptions in the academic calendar that you caused.”

They also want Mukhitho to “unconditionally apologize” to Chinsinga for the “psychological trauma” he caused to him personally and to his family.

CCASU say they expect to hear from the Inspector General of Police by Wednesday, 23 February 2011 so that they can resume their teaching duties.