Management at the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) comprising chancellery, directors, executive deans, managers and heads of department, were last week oriented on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) policy.

According to Director of Research and Outreach, Professor Alfred Maluwa, MUST recently developed the policy to ensure a conducive environment for staff and students.

“As an institution that is working with UN agencies, they also made it mandatory that all their partners, beneficiaries and recipient should formulate PSEA policies because of their experiences elsewhere. So it was a coincidence that we too had such plans,” said Professor Maluwa.

Among others, MUST is working with UN agencies such as UNICEF on the African Drone and Data Academy (ADDA), and was mentored by UNICEF Malawi to develop the policy but the university funded the development process.

During the orientation, the team learnt that the policy aims at establishing zero tolerance on sexual exploitation and abuse MUST by raising awareness and empowering staff and students to create an environment that is free from sexual abuse and exploitation.

“So far we are raising awareness on the policy and its contents. From orienting the management team here in Mangochi, we will now target students once they are back on campus on February 12. Other targeted groups include contractors, partners, community members participating in MUST projects,” he said.

The university will also produce promotional materials such as leaflets, posters and others to ensure that information is readily available to all stakeholders.

To facilitate reporting of cases in a free manner, there will be reporting forms that can be submitted to a committee or deposited in boxes that will be placed in strategic places.

“In all these submissions, confidentiality will be maintained. We will also ensure that all reported cases are investigated and culprits punished to send a strong message on how serious we are to achieve a sexual abuse and exploitation free environment.

One of the staff members, Dr Marion Chirwa Kajombo hailed the initiative, saying staff and students need to operate in a safe environment to operate at their highest levels.