Catholic University of Malawi (Cunima) chancellor Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa has asked government to ensure university graduands have access to jobs in both the private and public sector.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony yesterday at Cunima campus in Chiradzulu which was graced by President Lazarus Chakwera, the chancellor, who is also Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Blantyre of the Catholic Church, called on government to create an enabling environment for graduates to transform the country
He said: “Over 800 students graduating is a cause of joy for the university, the country and the church. But we have noted that there have been a few job choices for graduates. It is our humble plea that government creates an enabling environment for sustainable goals for graduates in the country.
“One who graduates is expected to transform and live a life of thinking and doing things into more humane and less corrupt ways, with more integrity. But it is worrisome that education does not seem to transform people. In some cases, the level of how corrupt one is seems to be equivalent to how educated one is.”
Msusa further asked government to build strong systems that enforce accountability in the public and private sectors if the country’s new development blueprint, the Malawi 2063, is to succeed.
In his speech, Chakwera, who rose to the presidency on the promise of creating one million jobs in the first year of office, urged the graduands to be resourceful and industrious if the country is to be an inclusively wealthy and middle-income nation.
The President said the graduating students should use their education to “reap good for the country”.
Said Chakwera: “As a nation, we are in desperate need of skilled and resourceful visionaries who can conceptualise something Malawi does not have and build it from scratch. Mind you, I do not mean being the kind of person who graduates today and goes to sit at home waiting for a job to land in their lap.
“I also do not mean being the kind of person who has a big dream but has neither the humility to start building it from small beginnings nor the patience to grow it over time. In short, what Malawi needs are graduates who are builders and doers, not talkers and wishful thinkers.”
The President ended his speech by calling on citizens to use social media responsibly. He also urged religious leaders to use their words responsibly to ensure peaceful co-existence.
In his remarks, Cunima council chairperson Martin Mtumbuka appealed to the President to use his position as Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) chairperson to work with other leaders to institute peace in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.
He said the college is constructing a 18 lecture rooms and a campus in Lilongwe, and it will soon roll out another campus in Mzuzu to satisfy the growing demand for tertiary education in the country.
During the graduation, 897 students were awarded diplomas and degrees in various fields.
After attending the graduation, Chakwera toured some road construction projects in Blantyre.
