Unima colleges delinking May 4

The government has said constituent colleges of the University of Malawi (Unima) will start operating as independent universities on May 4 this year and has established a committee to oversee the process.

This follows the government’s decision to reaffirm delinking of Unima colleges.

A memo, which acting Secretary for Education Raphael Agabu has signed and sent to principals of Chancellor College, The Polytechnic, College of Medicine and Kamuzu College of Nursing, indicates that the colleges will now be called University of Malawi, the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences.

“Meanwhile, Ministry of Education has re-organised the Transition Unit and has appointed a steering committee with immediate effect,” the memo reads.

Ministry of Education spokesperson Chikondi Chimala, confirmed that the government had set a date for the delinking to start.

The committee has Professor Emmanuel Kaunda as Chairperson; other members being Dr Philip Kaonda, Dr Tasokwa Kakota-Chibwana, Dr Asyatu Chiweza, Dr MacPhail Magwira and Director of Higher Education in the Ministry of Education.

Unima Registrar Benedicto Okomaatani Malunga declined to comment on the matter, saying the government could do anything to public universities.

Meanwhile, quality education campaigner Benedicto Kondowe has hailed the move, saying delinking the colleges would reduce bureaucracy which was affecting college operations.

“In this case, decisions will be made right at the colleges unlike in the past when principals had to report to the central office of the University,” he said.