By Durell Namasani
A huge fiire has destroyed a hostel at The Malawi Polytechnic main campus in Blantyre. The fire which has gut Nyika Hostel at the campus is not known how it started with students claiming that teargas canisters thrown by the Police has caused the fire.
First year students at the college staged protests demanding management to introduce security measures at Poly Alley Hostels after a wave of robberies .It is alleged that the protests were ignited by an incident last night at the Poly Alley Hostels where armed robbers broke into rooms and stole various items . Laptops, phones and clothes are among the things that were stolen.
In the morning, the students started demonstrating and were joined by other students from the main campus. Police later fired teargas at the students. It didn’t take long before Nyika Hostel was burning. This has led the students to accuse the police of setting fire to the hostel through their irresponsible shooting of teargas cannisters
So far the college has been closed with the registrar Yamikani Dalitso Chilinde confirming the closure , saying its only temporary. Students were told to leave the campus by 6pm.The Polytechnic management has not revealed what caused the fire nor have the Police commented on the accusations that are being levelled against them.
