Thursday, February 25, 2021
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Front Page

Unima wants varsity ombudsman

by Frank Namangale
16/07/2017
in Front Page, National News
4 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

The central office of the University of Malawi (Unima) has proposed to Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to help it with the establishment of a higher education ombudsman for speedy resolution of disputes, Nation on Sunday has learnt.

The proposal was made after observing that university dispute stake long in conventional courts, and in the process disrupt academic calendars in situations where a college is shut down over a dispute.

RelatedHeadlines

Committees urged to supervise projects

Man gets 21 years for defilement

Communities hail resilience project

chanco | The Nation Online
Chancellor College staff in a gesture of unity in one of the previous strikes

Unima registrar Benedicto Wokomaatani Malunga, in a response to a questionnaire, confirmed that the central office asked Ministry of Justice to help because academic calendars do not wait for anyone when there is a dispute.

“Indeed, Unima proposed that Malawi should have a higher education ombudsman to expedite the hearing of university cases which normally require speedy action which at the moment is lacking,” said Malunga.

According to Internet research, internal university ombudsmen typically spend a quarter to a third of their time as internal management consultants, trainers, and change agents.

Chancellor College Academic Staff Union (Ccasu), which recently staged a strike that lasted seven months, supported the proposal in an interview on Wednesday.

Ccasu president Anthony Gunde, in a response to a questionnaire, said the idea is positive in that it may help in resolving industrial disputes faster than through the conventional court route.

But the president said while the idea was good, it may take time to be implemented, and Unima should this time around utilise available avenues, “where in modern governance, unions, management and employers are expected to be social partners for the smooth and effective service delivery”.

“This is not the case with Unima. Academic unions and welfare committees have not been given space in the Unima governing structures and this is not in line with modern governance structures the world-over.

“You may note that students are officially represented in the council through Umsu [University of Malawi Students Union], and there is also a member from the alumni but there is no provision for the council representation from the academic unions or welfare committees,” said Gunde.

He said when one gets to any management position like dean, head or principal; it does not stop them from being union members, adding this is the only situation some union or welfare committee members have found themselves in council meetings.

“There is even a court ruling to that effect from 2011, where it was ruled that any employee regardless of position is free to be a union member,” said Gunde.

He was reacting to a statement made to Nation on Sunday by one of the members in the dissolved council that governance of Unima was problematic because union or welfare committee members found themselves in management and council and when a decision is being made, it leaks to the unions or welfare committees.

“I find that assertion regarding leakage [of information] to be archaic and belonging to the Jurassic world. You, as journalists, are aware that leaked information flows to you from even those within the inner-circle of a governing structure.

“As long as there has been inter-personal communication even in the most cocooned structures, human beings will leak sensitive information to the public sphere,” the Ccasu president said.

The University of Malawi, he said, has not regularised the involvement of unions in the governance structures.

Gunde said unions are expected to be key stakeholders on issues related to the running of the university and staff welfare, such as salary increments, perks and allowances.

He said failure to adhere to this is the genesis of the problems that have rocked Unima for years. Education expert Steve Sharra, in a response to a questionnaire, described as ‘brilliant’ the idea of the establishment of higher education ombudsman, adding: “In fact, there is need for two offices of an ombudsman, one for staff issues, and the other for student issues.”

Alternatively, he said authorities may create one office but with two departments to cater for staff and students’ issues.

“My broader opinion is that the major issue with councils of public universities is how they are appointed. By being appointed by the President, who is also Chancellor, they are political appointees.

“That already determines whose line they will toe. They have a silent understanding as to whose interests to serve, in my view. That is what will always compromise decisionmaking on major issues in our public universities,” Sharra said.

On members of unions or welfare committees taking seats in council, Sharra said that may pose conflict of interest when it comes to whose side to represent in negotiations, especially where there is a disagreement.

Previous Post

Mia welcomed into MCP fold

Next Post

50:50 campaign lacking political will—Pacenet

Related Posts

techers | The Nation Online
National News

Committees urged to supervise projects

February 24, 2021
An illustration of court proceedings
National News

Man gets 21 years for defilement

February 24, 2021
farming | The Nation Online
National News

Communities hail resilience project

February 24, 2021
Next Post
Tafatatha (L) and other delegates captured during the stakeholders meeting in Dedza

50:50 campaign lacking political will—Pacenet

Opinions and Columns

My Thought

Malawi needs fixing, not politicking

February 21, 2021
Political Uncensored

No longer at ease..

February 21, 2021
Emily Mkamanga

Discipline paramount in government

February 21, 2021
People’s Tribunal

Let OPC be standard for everyone to follow

February 21, 2021

Trending Stories

  • Co-chaired the task force: Phuka (L) and Mwanamvekha

    K780M Dodma Covid-19 feast

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Bushiri’s daughters blocked from flying out

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Censorship Board acts on ‘Aunt Nellie’ videos

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Convention In July 2023—DPP

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Mathanga, kunje Sue president, MEC

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2021 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.