Unam academic year starts

AS the University of Namibia (Unam) welcomed thousands of new and existing students to the campus on Tuesday, Vice Chancellor Lazarus Hangula had a stern warning for staff members not to participate in politics.

In a speech delivered on his behalf by Professor Osmund Mwandemele, Hangula said staff members were free to belong to the political party of their choice, but were not allowed to engage and participate in active party politics as office bearers. He said Unam staff members who wished to engage in party politics should apply for unpaid leave and should operate from their party headquarters or any place away from campus.”Our institution must remain clear of party politics, which may interfere with our noble tasks for which this institution was created,” said Hangula.He said the university reached a number of milestones last year, such as being ranked the 16th best African university among more than 3 000 institutions of higher learning on the continent.He said this achievement would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of staff and students.Discussions between Unam and the Finnish Oulu University led to collaboration in the fields of engineering and medicine after agreements with South African universities to admit Namibian pre-engineering students came to an abrupt end.Negotiations aimed at ensuring placements for pre-engineering and medical students are continuing with Finland, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania, Hangula said.He said contrary to unfounded allegations that the university was run by foreigners, a number of Namibians were appointed to head Unam faculties at the end of last year.”Everybody can see that the faculties and academic centres are not entirely run by expatriates,” he said.He said Unam staff members who wished to engage in party politics should apply for unpaid leave and should operate from their party headquarters or any place away from campus.”Our institution must remain clear of party politics, which may interfere with our noble tasks for which this institution was created,” said Hangula.He said the university reached a number of milestones last year, such as being ranked the 16th best African university among more than 3 000 institutions of higher learning on the continent.He said this achievement would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of staff and students.Discussions between Unam and the Finnish Oulu University led to collaboration in the fields of engineering and medicine after agreements with South African universities to admit Namibian pre-engineering students came to an abrupt end.Negotiations aimed at ensuring placements for pre-engineering and medical students are continuing with Finland, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania, Hangula said.He said contrary to unfounded allegations that the university was run by foreigners, a number of Namibians were appointed to head Unam faculties at the end of last year.”Everybody can see that the faculties and academic centres are not entirely run by expatriates,” he said.