Blantyre, Malawi - The University Council of Malawi has ordered lecturers at the Chancellor College and the Polytechnic, two constituent colleges of the University of Malawi, who have been boycotting classes for five weeks now, to return to classes by Thursday or risk being fired. The lecturers have, however, reacted with defiance, saying they would not be intimidated. 'In view of the situation, Council of the University of Malawi would like to state that there is no dispute between it and any academic staff members in the various colleges falling under its jurisdiction,' said Prof. James Seyani, chairman of the University Council.

'Council is therefore calling upon all academic staff members, who are currently not teaching, to resume teaching by 24 March this year, in other word, Thursday,' Seyani said.

According to him, 'Council, as the employer, reserves the right to take appropriate disciplinary action against any member of the academic staff who does not resume teaching by the said date.'

Polytechnic Academic Staff Committee on Welfare (PASCOW) Secretary General Simbirashe Mungoshi told PANA that academic staff at the college would be meeting Wednesday to map the way forward.

'We'll have a position after the meeting tomorrow morning,' he said. 

The Chancellor College Academic Staff Union (CCASU) president, Dr. Jessie Kabwila-Kapasula, told PANA that CCASU members had resolved not to be intimidated.

'We wish they respected the rule of law instead of issuing orders,' she said, adding 'we have an injunction against such orders. Now what council is doing is contempt of court. We've already commenced contempt of court proceedings against Prof. Seyani.'

Kabwila-Kapasula said the lecturers were open to discussion but would not be cowed by threats.

'If they wanted to resolve this out of court, we are available but these threats are counter-productive, they won't take us anywhere,' she said, asserting that 'the situation remains how it is; we're not going to class on Thursday.'

The lecturers sought and obtained an injunction against President Mutharika's earlier directive to return to class.

The class boycott started at Chancellor College in the eastern city of Zomba almost five weeks ago after Inspector General of Police Peter Mukhito summoned Associate Professor of Political Science Blessings Chisinga over a lecture hall example.

Dr. Chinsinga had allegedly said crises like Malawi's current fuel shortages could lead to insurrections like those that toppled governments in Tunisia and Egypt.

A student in his class allegedly reported to the police chief that the lecturer was inciting students to rise against the government of President Bingu wa Mutharika.

Chinsinga's colleagues reacted by abandoning classes, demanding an apology and assurances of academic freedom from Mukhito.

The police chief, however, refused to comment, saying there was the need to balance academic freedom with national security matters.

President Mutharika, who is both the Chancellor of the University of Malawi and the Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Police Service, threw his weight behind the police chief, describing Mukhito as 'one of the best Inspectors General of Police Malawi has ever had'.

He declared that Mukhito 'will not apologise to anybody' over the matter.

The president directed the lecturers to go back to classes by last Monday, a directive the lecturers defied.

At Tuesday's press conference, Prof. Seyani assured the lecturers that their academic freedom would not be compromised.

'Council wishes to state that in its considered opinion, academic freedom was neither infringed (upon) nor was it under threat,' he said, adding that 'the Council of the University of Malawi wishes to reiterate that academic freedom in the University of Malawi is assured, guaranteed and not under threat.'

Seyani said lecturers willing to return to class have 'to declare their position by signing specially designed forms' at the registrar at their various constituent colleges, an indication council wants to keep records on who has defied the order.

Meanwhile, the Bunda College of Agriculture in Lilongwe has expressed solidarity with the Chancellor College and Polytechnic colleagues but voted to explore other ways of demanding assurances of academic freedom than abandoning classes.

The Mzuzu University has also demanded unfettered academic freedom from the police chief.

Pana 23/03/2011