Lawyer Silungwe quizzes Ben Phiri on his diploma-mill qualifications: Warned of perjury

November 15, 2019 Wongani Chiuta - Nyasa Times 49 Comments

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Malunga Phiri has been quizzed of his qualifications in the Constitutional Court where he is the first witness of President Peter Mutharika, the first respondent in the presidential election results nullification petition.

Ben Phiri: My PhD is in biblical philosophy from Jerusalem Bible College

Phiri, a long-time top aide of Mutharika, who is also Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) director of elections, faced in the witness stand one of the lawyers representing immediate past Vice-president Saulos Chilima, Dr Chikosa Silungwe.

The minister uses the prefix ‘Dr’ before his name.

Silungwe asked Phiri to state where he obtained his doctorate degree and in what field.

Phiri said the doctorate was in Biblical Philosophy obtained from Jerusalem Bible College.

The lawyer also asked Phiri if he has a Masters Degree in which he confirmed he has and that he obtained it from Costa Ford University.

He said the Masters Degree is in International Relations.

Asked if he has a Bachelors Degree, Phiri said he has the degree also in International Relations from Atlantic University.

It was put to him that the institution is a diploma mill which is an organization that claims to be a higher education institution but provides illegitimate academic degrees and diplomas for a fee. These degrees may claim to give credit for relevant life experience, but should not be confused with legitimate prior learning assessment program.

One of the lawyers for President Mutharika, Frank Mbeta rose to shield Phiri from the line of questioning.

Lawyer Silungwe said he was asking Phiri on his qualifications and warned of perjury – the crime of telling lies in court when you have promised to tell the truth in an oath.

Apparently, Silungwe was pointing to a fact the Phiri is on record to have attained a doctorate degree with a US-based a doctorate degree with the Cyprus International Institute of Texas   and not Jerusalem Bible College.

Phiri was awarded the Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Management at a public ceremony held at the Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC) in 2015.

Silungwe also quizzed Phiri to state his thesis for his degree. But as Phiri stammered over the thesis, lawyer  Mbeta objected to the question on the basis of relevance to the matter at hand and the court sustained the objection.

In his Doctorate of Philosophy in Leadership Management, Phiri’s  thesis was titled; “Law Enforcement and Servant Leadership; Exploring Its Functionality. A Case Study of Organizational Leadership”

Phiri, who is also member of parliament for Thyolo Central and one of the  rich politicians, worked as special aide to President Mutharika but resigned from his post.

He had been the President’s aide since 2007 and said two issues prompted him to call it quits at State House, among them corruption allegations and suggestions that he was manipulating and influencing Mutharika.

Phiri said some critics were equating him to a ‘prime minister’ who called the shots behind the scenes.

He had been working as Mutharika’s assistant since November 2007 when he (Mutharika) came to Malawi to serve in various capacities, including Cabinet portfolios.

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49 replies on “Lawyer Silungwe quizzes Ben Phiri on his diploma-mill qualifications: Warned of perjury”

  1. Ben Phiri, I’m the son of the Tonga, Chigumbuli. We have produced the best brains in Malawi where some of them fought wars in foreign countries. People like Clemence Kandali was the first person to introduce a workers’ union in South Africa. Former President of Zambia is a descendent of Tongas. The list goes on. All these people never lied about their qualifications. I think your tribe is very ashamed of you for being a Doctor of Lies. All the online American universities you have obtained your one month degree and masters are mill degree producing universities. Americans that includes companies and their government recognize degrees that were accredited by the 6 regional accrediting agencies namely, ACCREDITING COMMISSION FOR COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES, WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION, MIDDLE STATES COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, NEW ENGLAND COMMISSION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, and NORTHWEST COMMISSION ON COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. Last time I checked non of Ben Phiri’ universities are accredited by those agencies. Besides, Ben Phiri got his bogus degree through the online studies. Well, nepotism is the order of Peter Hitler Mutharika and I don’t think he will fire him. If Ben Phiri can lie to the MAN HIMSELF upstairs who the hell do you think we are? We are just a chamber that he piss and shit in.

  2. Costa Ford University and Atlantic University are all bogus universities. They are not recognized or accredited by the regional accrediting agencies in the USA. Peter Hitler Mutharika knows Ben Phiri is a fake doctor and all his qualifications are fake, but he still keeps him. Peter Hitler Mutharika himself was a professor at George Washington University, and I know it because I was there. The University is in Colombia, Missourri state, and I was a student at Kansas University in the state of Kansas. Enock Chihanya was a student at Wichita State University in Kansas. Ask Peter Mutharika and Enock Chihanya how American universities are accredited. There are regional accredited. Any university which is not regional accredited is not recognized in the USA or the world. How in the hell Ben Phiri is forcing people to call him “Doctor”. Fuck you motherfucker, Ben Phiri. You can fool those stupid Malawians but you can’t fool all of them. They got your ass exposed to the public and is stinking lies. GO BACK TO SCHOOL BEN PHIRI AND OBTAIN TRUE DEGREES NOT FAKE DEGREES. STUPID ASSHOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. kutiopseza poti ndi kwao kwa Jesus.
    post graduate ku cyprus ,phd ku getsemani or vice versa kuuma mutu ngati mapwala ake omwe idiot

  4. It shows that Malawi’s administration is full of ‘educated’ fools. The youth should take over now.

    Tatopa nazo, zazziii.

  5. Just because he has one from Cyprus Does not mean he doesn’t have one from Jerusalem. That is just hateful thinking. Instead what you should be doing is finding out if he actually does not have one. Don’t speculate , investigate

  6. Mwana wanga amusankhira ma uni awiei University of Cyprus and Jerusalemu.

    Yabwino ndi iti. Nanga ma fees ake ali pa bwanji poti google wakanika kupeza information. Amalawi alipo anapitako ku Ma uni amenewa atiuze

    1. I know of one person who was there some few years ago, you may contact Mr. Ben Phiri who did his Ph.D at JBC and got an honourary at Cypress. I bet all the two offer courses your child might be interested in. Good luck

  7. Ben, ukanama sikuchedwa kucha

    Timkanena anathela nsiizi
    Kulankhula kwa ndithe ndithe nanthambwe anazjtengela

  8. Mmmmm Ben are you sure about Jerusalem Bible college because sikupezeka only Jerusalem University college, Jerusalem prophecy college or bethelehem Bible college mmmm Dpp chilungamo kkkkkkkk koma ma judge aone kuti anthuwa ngabodza

    1. Mrs. Mutharika

      Ben Phiri is the biggest liar. I googled and I didn’t find Jerusalem Bible College. Costa Ford University and Atlantic University are degree mill universities. They are not regional accredited. Yale University, Kansas University and all big names universities in the USA are regional accredited by the the six accrediting agencies.

  9. We have beautiful country but ugly president and weak cabinet without qualification that’s why most of them are setting in their office not to work but stealing Money for the poor people of Malawi. For that fool Animal they call Peter Mutharika he don’t know when he is going to die am sure is soon then our country will be back to normal

  11. Ben Phiri, aaah, Ambuyako a Lawyer sanafune kupita iwe wati uwonetse udolo. Ndi iziti

    Its recorded and those Universities will be informed to confirm.

    Why didnt you just say u have PHd in womanising and kulawula, to be precise kutukwana amayi.

    Also qualification in dubious riches. Ukanatha kuyankha even if tgey quizzed u in a strange language.

    Ukanama sikuchedwa kucha.

    As u studied theology, please search the bible what it says about Lying.

    Goodluck.

  12. Ben has lied under oath. In his interview with Brain Banda he said he got his PhD fro Cyprus University and to day he is saying Jerusalem Bible College. How many PhDs does he have?

  13. Ben phiri apa nde wages nayo there’s no Jerusalem Bible college kapena you meant Jerusalem prophecy college?Mbava ya munthu iyi

  14. All degrees Phiri claims are fake and not worth to mention. This idiot is a shame to entire DPP and the Country. Why Malawians are promoting mediocrity? This is total rubbish

  16. Dr Ben Phiri, dont blame Dr Chikosa Silungwe but Mbeta, he started the fight on qualifications with Suleiman just to ensure that you get embarrassed when your time comes.

    Bwana Ben Phiri, tell your boss Peter Muthalika never again to engage childish lawyers like Mbeta.

  18. Ngati anapita ku school Basi anakaphunzira. Unless he never went. Tjen silungwe should find out from those institutions if this man dd not good for studies. Know that we also have Dr Joice Banda, Dr Bakili muluzi and the professors. Akatakwwe

  19. That’s why we are a nation of wannabes. Most so called educated Malawians, have qualifications which are questionable considering the institutions they acquire them from. Degree Mills I agree. Do a qualifications audit and you will amazed what you will find in the cupboard

  20. It was indeed an irrelevant question to the issue at hand.For Suleiman it was understood because it dwelt so much on his touted expertise in IT.

    1. kkkk. Silungwe ziwanda zili mutsitsi muja. even asked him what his Thesis was about until the judges had to stop him. kkk the hate is real.

  24. kkk
    phd yobera ndalama. kuuma mutu kwake kumeneku zingaphulikemo zakupsa umu????
    kkkk under the rule of pitala. soon timva Mcaca from diploma khaya to Phd in one year. ma geneus pitala boys.
    igweeeeee uluuuu ziliko

  26. Kikikikikikikiki the goodness is that he accepted that there were irregularities. I thought he was a clever person but I also learnt that he was not a master of his own affidavit, something written for you and not assimilated at all.

    1. Even the electoral laws accept irregularities and gives which irregularities warrant a nullification. please read Malawi electoral laws Page 90 going forward. Don’t perish with the crowd seek knowledge

        1. Absolutely, generally The irregularities must show that a voter was denied an opportunity to vote ( e.g intimidation etc). Or a candidate does not meet the the laws requirements ( was there under false pretence etc) or even that the irregularities involved directly affected the figures on the ground. The courts are actually given the power to even just reaggregate instead if need be. A rerun can be scheduled in 14 days too.

      2. I hope the law also accepts that most original tally sheets can be thrown away after elections lets wait and see

  28. Kkkkkkkk na pa nkhani yama certificate uyu ndi sulemani wina.

    Msc in router and cables, Msc in searching other institutions database, PhD in disturbing bank networks

    1. The problem of being a thief. Chilichonse shortcut- KUBA BASI!!! Certificate kupangitsa ku diploma mill, mavote kufufuta ndi tipex, RMS mu computer deleting certain info, etc.
      One wonders what kind of role models are we creating for the future generations

  32. Even the title of the thesis tells a story that the minister has no idea of a thesis. Which professor can accept such title of thesis? Malawians like titles thats why people try all they can to get the title.

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