HRDC, movement press government on quota system
Anti-quota Movement has threatened to hold vigils at Capital Hill if the government does not allow the movement to access scripts it used in the first and second selection of form one learners.
The movement issued the warning during Monday’s peaceful demonstrations held in Mzuzu.
The march, which was partly affected by rains, was patronised by Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) Chairperson, Timothy Mtambo and his deputy, Gift Trapence, UTM spokesperson, Joseph Chidanti Malunga and Mzimba North legislator, Yeremiah Chihana, among other high profile officials.
The Movement’s spokesperson, Reverend William Mumba, speaking after presenting the petition to the government through Education Division Manager for the Northern Region, Mzondi Moyo, said they will not relent until their calls are met.
“The aim of these vigils is to sensitise Malawians the evils of quota system and to make the government aware that injustices and discrimination is reaching all Malawians. It is proper for the government to abolish quota system in the country. But should the government not respond to our petition, we are at Capital Hill that is the next place. They should not underrate or underestimate what we are doing,” he said.
In his remarks, Mtambo, who described Quota System as satanic, said he was ready to die fighting to end quota system.
“We are here to fight for the end of Quota System. Quota System is like apartheid in South Africa. Quota System is genocide. If you deny the children education, you are killing their future and that is stupidity. Malawi has to move forward. We want to create Malawi of equal opportunities regardless of where you come from, that is what we are here for and we are going to fight even if it means dying. I am ready to die for this country,” Mtambo said.
But Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Justin Saidi, has described the anti-demonstrations as unfortunate arguing that the government never used quota system to select learners into public secondary schools in the second selection this year.
Saidi also clarified that a lot of learners have been selected from Phalombe, among other districts, as the district is doing well in terms of performance and the ministry was guided by merit.
Last year, the pressure group held a series of demonstrations against quota system, a policy used in selection of learners into public school.
