Jessie Kabwila-Kapasula
Encyclopedia
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 hasn't been resolved. She is one of the fired lecturers at the center of the stand off for academic freedom that occurred at University of Malawi
(UNIMA) that resulted in her dismissal. This prompted protests from the UNIMA students and faculty that stood in solidarity with Kabwila-Kapasula and the eventual closure of the university. It led to a stand off between President Bingu wa Mutharika
and the lecturers. Her dismissal centering academic freedom was also one of the events that led to the July 20th, 2011 protests
.
, an associate political science professor, was interrogated by Peter Mukhito
, Malawi’s Inspector General of Police, about a parallel he drew in a lecture between Malawi’s fuel crisis and popular uprisings in Tunisia
and Egypt
during the Arab Spring
. He eventually fired for drawing comparisons between the economic conditions in Egypt
and Malawi
in a political science class. This prompted protests from the UNIMA students and faculty that stood in solidarity with Chisanga including Kabwila-Kapasula. It also led to the eventual closure of the universities at Chancellor College and Polytechnic. 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. Mukhito declared that academic freedom had to be balanced with issues of national security. This statement was backed by President Bingu wa Mutharika
who urged him not to apologize. Mutharika ordered them to return to work but the lecturers refused since there was no grantee of freedom. The government was unable to provide this under the leadership of The Minister of Education, Peter Mutharika
. The students stood in solidarity with the fired faculty which resulted in the use of teargas to disperse students. 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
.
Students at Binghamton University
(SUNY), Dr. Kabwila-Kapasula's alma mater, have urged Amnesty International to take up this case.
, a Malawian student at the same university that was an active student activist Youth for Freedom and Democracy (YFD), a student activist group. Kabwila-Kapasula dressed in red clothes with a red cloth around his mouth to symbolize the silencing of students under the Bingu wa Mutharika
administration.
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 hasn't been resolved. She is one of the fired lecturers at the center of the stand off for academic freedom that occurred at University of Malawi
University of Malawi
The University of Malawi is an educational institution established in 1964 and composed of five constituent colleges located in Zomba, Blantyre, and Lilongwe. Of the five colleges, the largest is Chancellor College in Zomba. The name of the school is abbreviated to UNIMA. It is part of the...
(UNIMA) that resulted in her dismissal. This prompted protests from the UNIMA students and faculty that stood in solidarity with Kabwila-Kapasula and the eventual closure of the university. It led to a stand off between 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...
and the lecturers. Her dismissal centering academic freedom was also one of the events that led to the July 20th, 2011 protests
2011 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...
.
Academic Freedom 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...
, 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, about a parallel he drew in a lecture 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...
. He eventually fired for drawing comparisons between the economic conditions in 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...
and Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
in a political science class. This prompted protests from the UNIMA students and faculty that stood in solidarity with Chisanga including Kabwila-Kapasula. It also led to the eventual closure of the universities at Chancellor College and Polytechnic. 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. Mukhito declared that academic freedom had to be balanced with issues of national security. This statement was backed by 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...
who urged him not to apologize. Mutharika ordered them to return to work but the lecturers refused since there was no grantee of freedom. The government was unable to provide this under the leadership of The Minister of 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...
. The students stood in solidarity with the fired faculty which resulted in the use of teargas to disperse students. 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...
.
Harassment and Death Threats
Since the incident she has reported that she has been denied a passport renewal by the government and has received harassing phone calls and death threats.Court Case
The lecturers have taken the government to court in order to ensure academic freedom and non interference by the police in academia.Support of Academic Freedom
Many Malawian organizations are showing their support to guarantee academic freedom including the Malawi Law Society and Malawi Congress of Trade Unions.Students at Binghamton University
Binghamton University
Binghamton University, also formally called State University of New York at Binghamton, , is a public research university in the State of New York. The University is one of the four university centers in the State University of New York system...
(SUNY), Dr. Kabwila-Kapasula's alma mater, have urged Amnesty International to take up this case.
Student Activist Death
She attended the funeral of Polytechnic student Robert ChasowaRobert Chasowa
Robert Chasowa was a University of Malawi engineering student and political activist. Chasowa was the chair of a student activist group, Youth for Democracy . The YFD printed a weekly pro-democracy and anti-Bingu wa Mutharika administration newsletter called the Weekly Political Update that has...
, a Malawian student at the same university that was an active student activist Youth for Freedom and Democracy (YFD), a student activist group. Kabwila-Kapasula dressed in red clothes with a red cloth around his mouth to symbolize the silencing of students under the 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...
administration.