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The Rhodesia Herald,

May 27, 1967

HITTING out at British and American lecturers who criticise Malawi’s one-party state, Dr Banda today warned the University of Malawi that “if it does not fit into the community, we might as well close it”.

President Banda said the university must fit into the circumstances and conditions in the country – “not those in America, Britain, France or Germany”.

If they do not like the political system in Malawi, they should go home and not indoctrinate Malawian students with foreign ideas.

Opening a political education seminar for the Malawi Congress Party, Dr Banda told students that if they do not like the way the country was being run, they should also leave.

He recently dismissed eight students from the university because of their criticism of the country.

“To be a student does not free one from work – and by work, I mean manual labour – in fact, if anything, it means you do your work even better,” he said.

The conference which will survey the country’s political constitution goes on until Sunday, after which Dr Banda will leave for a tour of America and Britain. – Iana.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

• When you are a visitor or guest of someone or a country, it is critical to abide by the laws and customs that are obtaining in that country, if one does not want to run into problems.
• Britons and Americans are fond of meddling in other people’s affairs. They feel that it is their God-given right to play the role of kingmaker, especially in African politics where they have been fomenting division and chaos for years.
• When someone is seriously out of line, it is critical not to treat them with kid’s gloves, but to deal with them with a firm hand.