Academic freedom (Malawi)

The academic freedom in Malawi (English. Academic Freedom ) is the starting point for sustained protests at the University of Malawi in February 2011. Ever since the demonstration of 20 July 2011 also involved persons without an academic background in the protests.

trigger

The trigger was the arrest of the political professor Blessings Chisinga from Chancellor College in Zomba after his statements about possible causes of the Arab Spring in Egypt , Tunisia and other Arab states . He drew parallels with problems in Malawi , such as the poor supply of fuel and foreign currencies, which he believes could lead to similar protests.

One of his students, employed by the Malawian police, passed these statements on, and Chisinga was arrested on February 12. Police chief Peter Mukhitho drove the 286 kilometers from Lilongwe to Zomba to be questioned. Chisinga was accused of calling on his students to protest against the regime and thus causing unrest in the country. Chisinga was released after questioning.

Protests

Triggered by the arrest, numerous students and professors from the university protested and demanded an apology from Police Chief Peter Mukhito and an assurance for academic freedom in Malawi.

Mukhito received support from President Bingu wa Mutharika personally, who commented on a possible apology:

" Peter Mukhito is the finest police (inspector-general) Malawi has ever had. He does his work with dedication. He (is), therefore, not going to apologize to anyone. "

“ Peter Mukhito is the best policeman Malawi has ever had. He does his job with passion. Because of this, he will not apologize to anyone. "

Ironically, President Bingu wa Mutharika is the Chancellor of the University of Malawi.

Furthermore, the President demanded that classes should be continued from March 14, 2011. The university lecturers, however, appealed to the High Court in Zomba. On March 15, the lecturers were approved by Judge Godfrey Mwase and the university's strike continued.

Jessie Kabwila-Kapasula, a director of Chancellor College, justified the strike of the lessons by students and lecturers as follows:

" We will not condone impunity and executive arrogance. An assurance of our safety is all we are asking for. If we are to be victimized for standing up to a principle, we are ready "

“ We will not tolerate the arrogance and impunity of the executive (meaning the police). The only thing we ask is a guarantee of our safety. But if we are sacrificed by standing by our principles, we are ready. "

After a court banned all further demonstrations on July 14th, there were again demonstrations in Lilongwe and Mzuzu on July 20th to draw attention to the gasoline shortage in the country. This demonstration stood out from the protests for academic freedom insofar as other strata of the population also participated in the demonstrations and academic freedom was no longer the main topic for this demonstration. At least eighteen people were also killed, including from gunshot wounds, during the demonstrations. During these protests the resignation of the government and in particular of President Bingu wa Mutharika were increasingly called for. The government reacted to the protests with a reporting ban, which western donor countries regard as very critical.

Support from abroad

In addition to Amnesty International , some foreign students are also trying to draw attention to the suppression of academic freedom in Malawi. Students from the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg showed their sympathy by, like the Malawian students, bandaging their mouths with red cloths.