MALAWI: Catholic University of Malawi Wins Universities Economics Students’ Debate
Bishop Chair - CUNIMA Rt. Rev. Martin Mtumbuka
The Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA), on Friday, 29th November, 2019, emerged overall national winner in the universities debate organised by the European Union (EU) in conjunction with the Economics Association of Malawi (ECAMA).
EU and ECAMA organised a nationwide economics students’ debate competition from September 2019 to December 2019 under the theme “Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth.”
The competition involved economics students from eight universities in Malawi. Public universities that participated included Chancellor College, Polytechnic, LUANAR and Mzuzu University. Private universities included Blantyre International University, Malawi Assemblies of God University, University of Livingstonia and The Catholic University of Malawi.
Given the common interest the EU and ECAMA have in promoting citizens’ participation and engagement on issues of national interest, the competition was set with the overall objective of creating a debating society among university students in Malawi to act as a platform for interaction and knowledge on how to contribute with innovative approaches to the development of the Malawi.
The topics for the debates were, for the first round: “Is the Fertiliser Subsidy Programme beneficial to Malawi”? “Should the government be more proactive in supporting the private sector”? “Should Malawi’s energy policy focus just on hydro”? “Does foreign aid effectively support growth in Malawi”? “Should Malawi budget be oriented towards social spending or infrastructure development”? For the semi-finals the topics were; “Is the current fiscal policy in Malawi effective in spurring growth”? “Is the current monetary policy in Malawi effective in spurring growth”? The topic for the final debate contest was: “Does agriculture offer the largest potential for Malawi’s economic growth?”
In the first round University of Livingstonia won against Mzuzu University, Malawi Assemblies of God won against LUANAR, Polytechnic won against Chancellor College and Catholic University won against Blantyre International University. In the semi-finals, Polytechnic won against Malawi Assemblies of God, and the Catholic University won against the University of Livingstonia. This set the ground for finals between the Catholic University and the Polytechnic which the Catholic University convincingly won and received a prize of K750, 000 while the Polytechnic came second and got K500, 000.
In a circular addressed to staff and students of the Catholic University following this achievement, the Vice-Chancellor Rev. Dr. George Buleya commended the staff and students from the Economics Department for investing their energy and time in ensuring and securing success for the CUNIMA debate team.
“We join hands in the well-deserved jubilation following this milestone achievement,” reads part of the circular signed by Rev Dr. Buleya.
Concurring with Rev. Dr. Buleya, the Catholic University Council Chairperson, Rt. Rev. Bishop Martin Mtumbuka, said that even though it has come so early in the history of the university, he is not surprised at such an achievement as it is now common knowledge in the country that CUNIMA students receive quality holistic education. For him, this achievement also “dismisses the general assumption that private universities in poor countries recruit leftovers who are of poor quality”.
The Team Leader for Economics, Trade, and Governance in the EU delegation Jose Maria Medina Navarro said the debates provided a platform for students to discuss policies affecting them and the society at large.
He has urged policymakers to engage the youths when developing policies as a way of ensuring inclusiveness on policies that are made in Malawi.
Navarro further expressed hope in the debates saying they have a potential in redesigning development strategies for the country.
A panel of three Judges namely Dr. Onelie Nkuna the Manager of Economic Policy and Research at Reserve Bank of Malawi, Dr. Lesley Mkandawire the Corporate Executive, and Dr. Tamani Nkhono a Development Expert took the challenge to name the winner at the end of all the rounds of the debates.
By Luke Bisani (Archdiocese of Blantyre Communications Department)
