Tag Archives: Chanco Students

Lifestyle

Historical as Chanco students vote man with Albinism Phunyanya as first ever Union President

Maravi Post Reporter
Godfrey Phunyanya
Godfrey Phunyanya_ Chanco Students Union President

Written by Decenzo Banda

The current crop of students at Chancellor College, a constituent college of the University of Malawi made history on Thursday when they ushered into the presidency of the union, a student with Albinism, Godfrey Phunyanya. This makes it the first time since the university was opened in 1964 for a student with Albinism to rise to the highest office in the student union of the college.

Phunyanya, an energetic with imposing physique, charismatic and of fearless character impressed the Chilunga intelligentsia, as Chancellor College students are fondly called, when he announced two weeks ago that he would be vying for the high office in the students’ union body.

“The moment he expressed interest, we knew he would make it because we trusted him with a big leadership position in one of the party political wings on campus and he was the darling of the people, his track record was impressive,” said one of his staunch supporters.

“Now the feeling is that of victory and satisfaction that the Chilunga intelligentsia have given him the mandate to led them for the next academic year” he said.

In an interview after the release of the results Thursday night, Phunyanya surrounded by his jubilating supporters was quick to thank the student community for the trust they have reposed in him.

“I am humbled for the trust reposed in me”, he said adding “I will be their servant and I will deliver on the promises I made during the just ended energy draining campaign.”

Phunyanya got 632 votes beating Kirby Kasinja who got 457, Amazing Grace Tepeka who got 323 votes, Yohane Tembo who got 308 and Alex Banda who got 224.

“It was tight but the voice of progress has triumphed. History has been made” said one of Phunyanya’s campaign strategists.

In another notable position, the student community have trusted John Theba as their Entertainment Director (ED). The newly elected ED impressed the student’s community on Friday last week when he managed to bring on campus a horde of urban artists including Dan Lu, Nepman, Steve Spesho, Jay Jay C all at once to prove that the students will no longer be starved of entertainment.

The full list of the newly elected members of Student Union of Chancellor College (SUCC) is as follows:

PositionName
PresidentMr. Godfrey Phunyanya
Vice PresidentMiss. Annie Fundi
SpeakerMr. Blessings M’mamera
Deputy SpeakerMiss. Atupele Msonda
Secretary GeneralMr. Geoffrey Maulidi
Deputy Secretary GeneralMiss. Thandeka Lizi
TreasurerMr. Stanford Lipoka
Deputy TreasurerMr. Kamwela Davious
Special Needs DirectorMr. Peter Jere
Sports DirectorWilfred Kanthiti
Publications DirectorMiss. Peggy Bilima
Academic Affairs DirectorMr. Pempho Kampini
Women Affairs DirectorMiss. Maureen Kachala
Entertainment DirectorMr. John Theba
Catering DirectorMiss. Nancy Kweteza
Deputy Entertainment DirectorMr. Yamikani Ngwangwa
Deputy Catering DirectorMiss. Dymphina Gondwe
Deputy Sports DirectorMr. Scofield Tembo
Deputy Publications DirectorMr. Clovix Lwanja
Committee MembersMiss. Trintus Jereni
Mr. Omar Robert
Mr. Dalitso Damiano
Mr. Isaiah Clement
Regional

Chanco students threaten to go ‘the HRDC way’ to enforce disability rights

Maravi Post Reporter
Dr Chilemba-Patron
Dr Chilemba-Patron of Disability Rights Clinic at Chanco

Written by Decenzo Banda

Chancellor College students have fired a warning shot that they will adopt ‘the HRDC way’ coupled with court litigation if authorities at the institution continue to procrastinate on improving the conditions of students with disabilities at the college.

The warning was made during a staff-student seminar organized by the Disability rights clinic of the Faculty of Law at the institution on Thursday. The seminar was organized under the theme: “Inclusion of persons with disabilities in higher learning.”

While applauding Chancellor College as the only institution of higher learning that enrolls students with disabilities in the country, it was learnt with sadness that the college is not doing enough to make the said students enjoy their rights.

“The main library building is discriminatory as there it is inaccessible to our friends with physical disabilities. Again, one wonders why the college is still dilly-dallying to employ official helpers for students say with visual impairment. We have been pushing for this to no avail,” said one participant on condition of anonymity.

Participants of the seminar in a group photo

The concerns catalogued above were also echoed by the Patron for the clinic Dr Enock Chilemba, a passionate disability rights defender, who let the cat out of the bag saying ‘we will now have no choice but to demonstrate on campus and if need be, to drag our own college to court as one way of compelling authorities to respect rights of students with disabilities on campus.”

Concurring with Dr Chilemba was Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe who prodded students to stop mere rhetoric but rather take bold actions to enforce rights of students with disabilities at the institution.

“We have listened to good presentations, wonderful recommendations have also been made but in the final analysis, this will be a futile exercise if no action is taken. Let’s walk the talk even if it means seeking legal redress on some of these issues,” he said.

It appears the current crop of students at Chancellor College are so passionate to see that students with disabilities are enjoying to the fullest their social, political and academic rights. For instance, most of the students this reporter interviewed after the seminar said they are hopeful to make history next week by ushering Geofrey Phunyanya, a fearless, charismatic, listening, energetic and no nonsense third year student with Albinism Phunyanya who is contesting as President of the Students union of Chancellor College (SUCC).

According to official statistics, Chancellor College has over 80 students with various forms of disabilities ranging from visual impairments, Learning difficulties as well as people living with Albinism among other forms.

Malawi

Security of USA’s second lady Jill Biden compromised by anti-fee hike protesting varsity students in Malawi

Maravi Post correspondent 2 Comments

 

Dr Jill Biden's motorcade blocked
Dr Jill Biden’s motorcade blocked

ZOMBA (Maravi Post)—The security for  the second lady of the United States of America came under threat in Malawi’s eastern city of Zomba on Tuesday when Chancellor College students, a constituent College of the University of Malawi,  blocked passage of her motorcade in Matawale township in the city.

“The second lady is just a victim of the incompetency of Malawi President Peter Mutharika who has unreasonably sanctioned the fee hike in the University of Malawi, a situation which has prompted the students to run amok and engange in violent demonstrations in a quest to force President Mutharika to reduce the fees,” said an eye witness, a student herself.

Recently, University of Malawi (Unima) council under the directive of President Mutharika who happens to be the Chancellor of the University of Malawi announced an increase in tuition fees to K900 000 ($1249) and others to K1.4 million ($1 942)—mature students—and  K400 000 ($555) and others to K600 000 ($833) for continuing students per year.

Our reporter on the ground said that Mrs Jill Biden was just caught in the cross of fire. The students blocked the public road and were burning tyres on the road amidst spraying of teargas canisters on them by the police.

“Her motorcade was on its way from Blantyre city to Machinga district where she was supposed to conduct a function on promotion of girl education and then she met the angry students in Zomba and was forced to stop,”

“Dr Jill Biden looked confused and disturbed on the whole situation and more so to see that the police were clueless to handle the situation,”

“Instead, the police told the security detail of Madam Jill to retreat and park her motorcade at Zomba’s police eastern headquarters,” said our source.

Dr Jill Biden's motorcade parked at Malawi Police Eastern headquarters in Zomba city
Dr Jill Biden’s motorcade parked at Malawi Police Eastern headquarters in Zomba city

Dr Jill Biden was accompanied by Minister of Education Emmanuel Fabiano and US ambassador to Malawi Virginia Palmer.

Dr. Jill Biden is in the country to highlight girls’ education, women’s empowerment and food security.

The development has vindicated other quarters in the country who say that the country’s Director of National Intelligence Bureau Nicolas Dausi is incompetent who is inclined on cooking false Intelligence reports to President Mutharika.

“ It was obvious that the situation in Zomba was volatile and how could a functioning intelligence unit give a go ahead to the USA second lady to use the same route on her way to Machinga?

“This shows that someone is not properly performing his duties somewhere hence embarrassing the whole nation,” said one political science student at Chancellor College.

Meanwhile, President Peter Mutharika, having gotten hold of the embarrassing news of holding the USA’s second lady ‘ hostage’ has ordered that the University be closed and the College Principal Professor Tambulansi has issued the memo that Chancellor College, a constituent college of the University of Malawi has been closed until further notice. Students have been told to leave the campus by 4:00 local time today.

 

 

Malawi

Malawi pres. Peter Mutharika may be ousted as Chanco students resolve to stage massive protest of his regime

Maravi Post correspondent

Angry Chanco students want President Mutharika to do the needful asap

ZOMBA (Maravi Post)—Malawi President Peter Mutharika’s constitutional mandate is expected to end in 2019 when the country holds another general election but it appears this may not be the case as Malawi youths want him to resign for gross incompetence. Continue reading Malawi pres. Peter Mutharika may be ousted as Chanco students resolve to stage massive protest of his regime →