Students at Ekwendeni campus of the University of Livingstonia (Unilia) of the CCAP yesterday protested against the university’s administration for failing to curb internet problems at the campus.
The demonstrations come hot on the heels of a lecturers and supporting staff’s sit-in at the synod’s Laws Campus in Rumphi and Ekwendeni campus in Mzimba where they are demanding University Trustees to fire Vice Chancellor, Professor Yohane Nyasulu, University Registrar, Peter Kayira, and Director of Finance Francis Kumwenda.
They argue that the three do not have development plans for the university in terms of infrastructure and resources.
Dressed in black attire, the students blocked the Mzuzu-Karonga M1 Road for three hours preventing vehicles from passing near the campus, located close to Ekwendeni Trading Centre.
The students, who were singing songs accusing the university’s leadership for what they called failure to run the institution, have petitioned the University’s central office at Livingstonia Synod Headquarters in Mzuzu.
They have since threatened to continue boycotting classes if the synod does not find lasting solutions to the problems.
“We feel the university’s leadership has completely failed to act on our long -time grievances. We have been talking about the poor internet connection for six months but nothing is happening. How can three computers accommodate over 600 students,” Light Phiri, Students Union President queried while distancing the students from the lecturers and supporting staff’s sit-in.
However, the synod’s General Secretary, Reverend Levi Nyondo, said his office will comment after a meeting scheduled to solve the matter.
Inside sources revealed, however, that the synod’s secretariat has ordered the Board of Trustees at the institution to hold an emergency meeting tomorrow to resolve the matter.
The University Workers Union at Laws and Ekwendeni campuses wrote the central office, accusing the three leaders of being selfish when they increased their own salaries in June last year.
The members of staff are also demanding salary increment of about 60 percent. They have since threatened to continue with the sit-in which started on Friday last week if the synod does not offer redress.
The letter is also demanding payment to some support staff for the work they did under crash programme in which they taught students during holidays.
Students Union President at Laws Campus Brian Liwombe said in an interview on Tuesday that the sit-in has affected their preparations for examinations to commence next week Wednesday.
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