Blessings Chinsinga
Encyclopedia
Dr. Blessings Chinsinga is a Malawian lecturer at the center of the Malawi Academic Freedom Stand off and eventual protests. He was a Senior lecturer in Development Administration, Public Policy Analysis and Institutions, and Development at University of Malawi's chancellor college.
, who was an associate political science professor, was interrogated by Peter Mukhito
, Malawi’s Inspector General of Police. In a political science lecture he had drawn comparisons that drew parallels between Malawi’s fuel crisis and popular uprisings in Tunisia
and Egypt
during the Arab Spring
. This comparison was reported to the police and he was eventually fired along with Jessie Kabwira Kapasula, Gaston Kanchedzera and Edge Kanyongoro. This move received mush criticism form faculty at the university including president of the Chancellor College Academic Staff Union, Jessie Kabwila-Kapasula
. It also prompted protests from the UNIMA students that stood in solidarity with Chisanga and Kabwila-Kapasula in support of academic freedom. The protest led to the eventual closing of UNIMA's Chancellor College and Polytechnic. It also led to the involvement of the then Minister Education, Peter Mutharika
and his brother President Bingu wa Mutharika
. President Mutharika ordered the lecturers back to class.
As a condition to return to class, the academics asked for an official apology from the police chief, Peter Mukhito
and assurances of respect for academic freedom. The police Inspector General Mukhito declared that academic freedom had to be balanced because this was an issue of national security. This statement was supported by Bingu wa Mutharika
who encouraged him not to apologize because of a 'mere lecture'. The failure to resolve this matter and a stand off occurred between lecturers and students on one side, and the President of Malawi, Bingu wa Mutharika
. The students stood in solidarity with the fired faculty which resulted in the use of teargas to disperse students and an indefinite closure of the university.
..
A court order had also a court order halted the dismissal of the staff and prevented the university council from withholding salaries of the lecturers. Thus a complete lock-out of campuses of the two colleges could not be achieved. Authorities eventually ordered the indefinite closure of the two colleges.
. civil society was demanding the reinstatement of the professor and the guarantee of academic Freedom.
Academic Stand-off
The stand off began when Dr Blessings ChinsingaBlessings Chinsinga
Dr. Blessings Chinsinga is a Malawian lecturer at the center of the Malawi Academic Freedom Stand off and eventual protests. He was a Senior lecturer in Development Administration, Public Policy Analysis and Institutions, and Development at University of Malawi's chancellor college...
, who was an associate political science professor, was interrogated by Peter Mukhito
Peter Mukhito
Peter Mukhito is the current Inspector General of Police in Malawi.He has gained notoriety for his involvement in interrogating Blessings Chinsinga which began the stand off for academic freedom in Malawi between Chinsinga and President Bingu wa Mutharika. He was also involved in the investigation...
, Malawi’s Inspector General of Police. In a political science lecture he had drawn comparisons that drew parallels between Malawi’s fuel crisis and popular uprisings in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
during the Arab Spring
Arab Spring
The Arab Spring , otherwise known as the Arab Awakening, is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world that began on Saturday, 18 December 2010...
. This comparison was reported to the police and he was eventually fired along with Jessie Kabwira Kapasula, Gaston Kanchedzera and Edge Kanyongoro. This move received mush criticism form faculty at the university including president of the Chancellor College Academic Staff Union, Jessie Kabwila-Kapasula
Jessie Kabwila-Kapasula
Dr. Jessie Kabwila-Kapasula is an academic, feminist, educator and activist. Her interests are in African feminism.Kabwila-Kapasula was the acting president of the Chancellor College Academic Staff Union that was fired during the stand off to ensure academic freedom at the University of Malawi that...
. It also prompted protests from the UNIMA students that stood in solidarity with Chisanga and Kabwila-Kapasula in support of academic freedom. The protest led to the eventual closing of UNIMA's Chancellor College and Polytechnic. It also led to the involvement of the then Minister Education, Peter Mutharika
Peter Mutharika
Arthur Peter Mutharika is a Malawian politician, author, educator, lawyer, advisor and consultant. He has worked in the area of international Justice internationally...
and his brother President Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika is a Malawi economist who is President of Malawi. He took office on 24 May 2004 after winning a disputed presidential election...
. President Mutharika ordered the lecturers back to class.
As a condition to return to class, the academics asked for an official apology from the police chief, Peter Mukhito
Peter Mukhito
Peter Mukhito is the current Inspector General of Police in Malawi.He has gained notoriety for his involvement in interrogating Blessings Chinsinga which began the stand off for academic freedom in Malawi between Chinsinga and President Bingu wa Mutharika. He was also involved in the investigation...
and assurances of respect for academic freedom. The police Inspector General Mukhito declared that academic freedom had to be balanced because this was an issue of national security. This statement was supported by Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika is a Malawi economist who is President of Malawi. He took office on 24 May 2004 after winning a disputed presidential election...
who encouraged him not to apologize because of a 'mere lecture'. The failure to resolve this matter and a stand off occurred between lecturers and students on one side, and the President of Malawi, Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika is a Malawi economist who is President of Malawi. He took office on 24 May 2004 after winning a disputed presidential election...
. The students stood in solidarity with the fired faculty which resulted in the use of teargas to disperse students and an indefinite closure of the university.
Commission
An Academic Freedom Commission to solve the academic stand off was formed headed by former chancellor Brown ChimphambaBrown Chimphamba
Brown Chimphamba is a Malawian academic, civil servant and diplomat. He is the former Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He was also the chairman of the commission which ran the 1993 referendum which ended the rule of Hastings Banda's Malawi Congress Party...
..
Court Case
The register closed the two colleges of the university under the orders of the president who is both the Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Police Service and Chancellor of the University of Malawi in defiance of a court order that the lecturers had obtained.A court order had also a court order halted the dismissal of the staff and prevented the university council from withholding salaries of the lecturers. Thus a complete lock-out of campuses of the two colleges could not be achieved. Authorities eventually ordered the indefinite closure of the two colleges.
Causes of Malawi Protests
The Academic Stand off was one of the factors that lead to the July 20, 2011 nation wide protests2011 Malawian protests
The 2011 Malawi protests were protests aimed at winning political and economic reforms or concessions from the government of Malawi. On 20 July, Malawian organisations protested against perceived poor economic management and poor governance by President Bingu wa Mutharika and his Democratic...
. civil society was demanding the reinstatement of the professor and the guarantee of academic Freedom.
Published Works
- Planting Ideas: How Agricultural Subsidies Are Working in Malawi - 2008
- Democracy, Decentralisation and Poverty Reduction in Malawi - 2007