’Varsity owner fined over fake degrees

The Lilongwe Principal Resident Magistrate’s has fined Gusto Gadama K3.4 million or in default serve four years in prison for operating Cyprus International Institute and Jerusalem University without relevant registration.

The court heard that the two universities were conferring higher education qualifications without approval of the National Council for Higher Education (Nche).

Gadama appeared before principal resident magistrate Roderick Michongwe yesterday for sentencing after he had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of operating a higher education institution without authorisation from Nche and conferring qualifications.

Delivering the ruling, the magistrate said Gadama was fully aware of the requirements to operate a university and offer higher education qualifications, but he decided to go against the law. He said his conduct affected education standards.

The magistrate also said Gadama’s conduct made unsuspecting victims lose money as they paid for nothing.

“It was just a mockery. Those people paid money. They lost money because they paid for nothing. The accused knew that. The accused raised false expectations for the people. People thought they had diplomas, degrees, PhDs,” said Michongwe.

The magistrate ordered Gadama to pay a fine of K1.7 million on each count and in default serve two years in prison on each count.

“The custodial sentences will run consecutively. So he will have to serve four years,” said Michongwe.

Speaking in an interview after the sentencing, Nche chief executive officer Ambumulire Phiri said the conviction alone is a step in the right direction in flushing out higher education institutions that operate illegally.

“The sentence will send a warning to other institutions that are operating without following proper procedure,” she said.

Phiri stressed that the certificates that Cyprus and Jerusalem University offered are worthless.

Cyprus International Institute conferred both academic and honorary papers to a number of Malawians including former government official hostess Mama Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira and musician Ethel Kamwendo Banda.

Fallen musician Wambali Mkandawire was conferred with an honorary doctorate, but he rejected it.