The Vice Chancellor for the Catholic University of Malawi, Rev. Fr. Dr. George Buleya, has bid farewell after successfully completing his terms of office.
Speaking during a farewell party last Friday organised for the outgoing Vice chancellor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Buleya applauded staff and students for their support rendered to him when he was in office.
“I thank God for giving the opportunity, and I would also like to thank the students; our students are some of the best in Malawi, students that are well behaved, students who can move with you in the same direction,” said Rev. Fr. Dr. Buleya.
One of the staff members, Enwood Chirambo, applauded Rev. Fr. Dr. Buleya for the achievements in the past years he has served as the Vice Chancellor.
Chirambo explained that the university has been transformed by the outgoing Vice chancellors’ “vision” of uplifting the standards of an institution of higher learning, as the Catholic University is now.
The Staff representative cited infrastructural developments such as modern car parks, three lecture theatres, tarmac roads, and the construction of a three-story building on the new campus in Lilongwe as some developments championed by the outgoing Vice chancellor.
“Then, we used to have four vehicles for the university, but since he was appointed as Vice chancellor, the university has over fifteen vehicles. The other thing that I would like to thank the outgoing Vice chancellor for is his caring heart for the staff members; he introduced Christmas bonuses to all staff members,” narrated Chirambo.
Concurring with Chirambo, the Secretary General for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), who is also one of the University Council members, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Alfred Chaima, commended the outgoing Vice Chancellor for his “visionary leadership”.
“We have seen your achievements wherever you have been; when we go to St. Peter’s Major Seminary, we see things that you initiated, just as at the Catholic Secretariat, when you were the Secretary-General for the Conference, we see what you have done there,” said Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Chaima.
The Bishops have since appointed Rev. Fr. Dr. Wilfred Sumani as Acting Vice chancellor for the University.
Established in October 2004, Rev. Fr. Dr. Buleya is the second Vice Chancellor who took over the leadership mantle from Professor Anacleate Phiri in May 2015.