Early in February, a Malawian university lecturer dared to point out that circumstances like the chronic fuel shortage in his country can lead to mass protests – and, potentially, the toppling of regimes. He was subsequently hauled in by the police for questioning. His colleagues have gone on strike until they receive an apology from the police inspector-general, as well as assurances of academic freedom. But the government isn't backing down, and lecture halls stand empty. By GREGORY GONDWE.
Over the last four months Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika has started clamping down on freedom of expression in a style reminiscent of former dictator Hastings Banda. The media is already fighting Mutharika in court over his government’s decision to amend Section 46 of the Penal Code, which empowers the information minister to ban any publication deemed to be against the public interest. Now the president has picked another fight – this time with academia. And lecturers at the University of Malawi are up in arms.
The trouble started at Chancellor College (one of the University of Malawi's five colleges) in the heart of Malawi's former capital, Zomba. In February associate professor in political science Blessings Chisinga delivered a lecture to his public policy class on the causes of mass protests. He pointed out that protests resulting in a change of government, such as those in Egypt and Tunisia, can be ignited by situations like the chronic fuel and foreign exchange crisis Malawi is currently experiencing. Little did he realise that one of his students, a police officer, would act as a spy for the Malawi Police Service.
The student reported the associate professor to his boss, police top dog, inspector-general Peter Mukhitho. He summoned Chinsinga for questioning on 12 February, and interrogated him over allegations that he had been inciting students to demonstrate against the government. The lecturer cried foul. “I am living in fear as I feel like I am being followed and watched; I am kind of afraid,” Chinsinga told the local media soon after his ordeal.
A former colleague, Boniface Dulani, now living and teaching in the US, reacted to the state's action on his blog. Dulani said the fact that the police chief travelled 286km from Lilongwe to Zomba meant the authorities were taking the lecture-room spies seriously. He wondered why government could use unfounded accusations to threaten university academics. “In my view, the lecture room is the academic’s sanctum – one needs to be free to speak and provide concrete, relevant and contemporary examples, preferably local ones – without the fear of being summoned to appear before the police,” wrote Dulani.
In reflecting on the lack of the academic freedom during the Banda rule from 1964 to 1994, Dulani pointed out that Banda’s successor, Bakili Muluzi, had never interfered with academic freedom.“I have to say that in spite (of) his ineptitude, the former president Bakili Muluzi never resorted to such grotesque tactics to silence us. And we will not be silenced.”
But it wasn't only Malawians in the diaspora who gave Chinsinga support. His colleagues have boycotted classes for more than a month now, and on 10 March lecturers at Chancellor College donned academic garb, covered their mouths with pieces of cloth and marched to the eastern region police headquarters. They delivered a petition demanding the police inspector-general apologise to their colleague and assure them of their academic freedom.
However, the police chief has categorically refused to apologise. He said there was need to strike a balance between academic freedom and national security. Since then, the lecturers have continued their boycott. Each morning they put on their academic clothes, cover their mouths with pieces of cloth and march around the compass with placards – an everyday ritual meant to exhibit their disgust.
On 11 March Mutharika, who is also chancellor of the university, as well as the commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces (which include the police), told the lecturers his inspector-general was not going to apologise, saying that, if anything, the academics should apologise. Speaking at a police passing-out parade, Mutharika said: “Peter Mukhito is the finest police (inspector-general) Malawi has ever had. He does his work with dedication. He (is), therefore, not going to apologise to anyone.” The president also presented Mukhito, his former bodyguard, with a presidential police medal. On Chinsinga, Mutharika said: “Let us be honest... if a teacher leaves set subjects and teachers revolt against an established government, is this what you call academic freedom?”
The president also ordered the lecturers to return to class by 14 March. However, the lecturers sought an injunction in the high court in Zomba, and on 15 March Judge Godfrey Mwase ruled in their favour, rendering the presidential directive null and void.
The university lecturers have made it clear that they will not be intimidated in their pursuit for academic freedom. On 13 March, lecturers at the Blantyre College of the university, The Polytechnic, began boycotting classes in solidarity with their colleagues. On 17 March, lecturers at another Malawi University college, Bunda College of Agriculture in Lilongwe, joined in too. There are also indications that the country’s second public university, the Mzuzu University, as well as several private institutions of higher learning, are on the verge of joining the boycott.
On 16 March, lecturers held a press briefing at the Polytechnic in Blantyre where acting president of the Chancellor College Academic Staff Union, Jessie Kabwila-Kapasula, said they cannot be forced back to class before their demands are addressed. “We will not condone impunity and executive arrogance. An assurance of our safety is all we are asking for. If we are to be victimised for standing up to a principle, we are ready,” declared Kabwila-Kapasula. She added an apology would not make a government weak: “It would be mature, right and respectful of its citizens. What we are fighting for is academic freedom, which can't be limited or derogated by any person or any institution, even during times of state of emergency,” she said.
Mutharika has said he plans to establish a committee to define “what this animal called academic freedom is all about”. But Kabwila-Kapasula dismissed this, saying academic freedom is spelt out clearly in the constitution and, therefore, does not need to be disciplined or censored through any kind of committee. The constitution states: “There shall be no derogation, restrictions or limitation with regard to the right to freedom of conscience, belief, thought and religion and to academic freedom.”
The Civil Society Coalition for Quality Basic Education said intimidation by the government would not yield any positive results. “Intimidation at all costs does not work, particularly when the president promotes a culture of (intimidating) citizens and institutions that attempt to challenge his decisions,” said the coalition’s executive director Benedicto Kondowe. The body appealed to the president to consider entering into dialogue with the lecturers as a matter of urgency to deal with the problem and avoid spill-over effects now that several colleges are joining the boycott.
Cuthbert Kachale, an academic now living in Zimbabwe, studied in Malawi during Banda's rule. “Learning or teaching in fear is not the best... environment. It is where one is never sure of tomorrow,” Kachale said. “At the rate things are going now, the Bingu regime is fast becoming a reincarnation of the tyrannical Banda one.”
Meanwhile, the stalemate at the University of Malawi continues. Kabwila-Kapasula said: “This is not an ego contest.” Unfortunately, while their elders contest this battle of wills, ultimately, it's the students who suffer. FAM
Gregory Gondwe is a Malawian journalist currently working as chief reporter for Zodiak Broadcasting Station. He is also a correspondent for BizCommunity, as well as BiztechAfrica. He also writes a music column, called Drumming Pen, for the Malawi News. He has previously written for The Nation, The Daily Times, Malawi News, The Weekend Nation and been a stringer for the public broadcaster, the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation.
Photo: Bus from Lilongwe to Blantyre. By Manogamo.
