Csec condemns govt’s action on Must

The Civil Society Education Coalition (Csec) has condemned government’s dilly-dallying in opening the Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must) describing the delay as “unbecoming development and uninspiring”.

Despite the initial plan to open the imposing Must, which was built in Ndata, Thyolo, in September this year, the exercise has been shifted to January next year.

The overseers of the project have bemoaned the reduction of the money allocated to the university from K7 billion to K1.2 billion.

But in a statement dated August 21 2013, the coalition’s executive director Benedicto Kondowe and board chairperson MacBain Mkandawire expressed the organisation’s confusion and disbelief over government’s action.

The organisation has since asked government to be serious in its resolve to ensure that Must is open as soon as possible.

“The government should explain the reasons for the current situation as well as present a clear plan on how to complete the construction of the remaining facilities and ensure its opening with all essential facilitates and with no further delay,” reads the statement that was issued on August 21 2013.

The statement also called on government to ensure that it protects the interest of poor students who cannot afford to go to private universities.

No government official was immediately available for comment, but Must team leader Dr Moses Chinyama told the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Human Resources who toured the Must campus on Tuesday that there are outstanding issues that have to be resolved before the institution is opened.

Must was controversially constructed at former president Bingu wa Mutharika’s Ndata Farm after it was transferred from Lilongwe where it wasinitially planned to be built.