Honoring a model librarian

On 20th December, 2023, the Law section of the University of Malawi organized a heartfelt farewell for Mr. Mathias Chiwaya, a respected librarian, on his retirement a long tenure at the McKnight Machika  Library. The event featured speeches from representatives of the bench, the School of Law, Economics and Government, Law students, and lecturers, all praising Mr. Chiwaya for his selflessness and dedication.

Joined by his family, Mr. Chiwaya expressed gratitude for the support he received throughout his time at the university. He also thanked colleagues and the institution for the enriching experiences. In his address, Mr. Chiwaya encouraged students to continue valuing the library's books, emphasizing their importance to legal studies .

Mr. Chiwaya's association with the university began on 4 May 1984 as a library assistant. He progressed to various roles within the University of Malawi Library until 2005 when he was assigned to became a librarian in the law library, which had been constructed as part of the new Law building. Over the years, Mr Chiwaya has guided numerous students, some of whom later joined him at UNIMA as lecturers while others are prominent lawyers in Malawi.

As a token of gratitude, lecturers, current law students, and former law students presented Mr. Chiwaya with various gifts, including monetary contributions. The event served as a fitting tribute to a man whose dedication left a lasting impact on the university community.

As the event concluded, attendees had the opportunity to capture the moment in photographs with Mr. Chiwaya.