CHANCO students hold peaceful demonstrations: Mutharika given 7 days ultimatum to reopen the college

Chancellor College Students on Thursday held a peaceful demonstration in the city of Zomba asking the State President Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika to intervene in the industrial dispute that has led to the closure of their college.

Presenting their petition to Zomba District Commissioner (DC) Emmanuel Bambe, the organizer of the Zomba demonstrations, Masida Shaba, a third year Bachelor of Education in Social Studies student said they are very optimistic that the president will address the issues surrounding the stalemate that has led to the college’s closure.

Shaba said the students are suffering since they have been greatly affected economically, socially and psychologically due to closure of the college.
According to Shaba, CHANCO students have asked the President to look into the matter within a period of seven days and give them feedback as to when the college will open.

In his remarks after receiving the petition, the DC thanked the students for following proper procedures in holding the peaceful demonstrations.

Bambe assured them that the petition will reach the Chancellor within two days and that they will be informed on the way forward.

“Let me assure you that the petition will be delivered to Capital City within two days and much as I know that the chancellor is very committed, he will intervene for you to come back to the college,” said Bambe.

He further advised the students to conduct themselves amicably and peacefully as they did because one day they will be the ones receiving petitions from other students.

The CHANCO students held the demonstrations due to the unceremonious closure of their college caused by an industrial sit-in by lecturers who are seeking a 40 percent pay hike.