Chirunga Newsletter, University of Malawi
- Artist/Author/Producer: Producers of Chirunga Newsletter
- Confronting Bodies: University of Malawi
- Dates of action: 1988
- Location: Malawi
- Description of the Art Work
- " ...Chirunga Newsletter, a magazine produced by the students at
Chancellor College, part of the University of Malawi. An issue of the
magazine in late 1988 raise a number of grievances, including the
introduction whereby students are admitted by region of origin rather
than purely on merit. The newsletter also criticized encroachment of
political organisations on the university campus. The CCAM organized
functions at the university which students, especially women, were
obliged to attend. There was a complaint that the CCAM had ruined one of
the college sports grounds by holding a fair on it. The Chirunga
Newsletter criticized a decision not to readmit students who had
interrupted their studies for maternity leave. This decision was taken
without warning and without retrospective effect. Finally the magazine
was critical of high rates of interest on student loan scheme, funded out
of foreign aid grants. This is pretty much the usual fare of student
magazines the world over, but for Malawi it was extremely daring... "
- Description of incident
- " ...The editor of the Chirunga Newsletter, George Chazama, and two of
his reporters, were called before the British Vice Chancellor of the
University, Dr. John Dubbey, and told they were suspended for the
remainder of the academic year. This was confirmed by a letter of January
23, 1989 which stated that the contents of the magazine were "considered
prejudicial to the good order of the university" -- a somewhat ironic
phrase, since the suspensions then provoked the first ever student
demonstration at the University...
- Results of incident
- "...On February 6 four students--George Chazama, Peterkins Chinoko,
Tasosa Gondwe and Hardy Nyirenda--were expelled from the University. The
expelled students were prevented from getting jobs and believed that they
were under threat of arrest. At least three of them left the country... "
Source: Human Rights Watch/Africa Watch, "Where Silence Rules, The Suppression of
Dissent in Malawi," October 1990, Pg. 69