Off the wall of Patseni Mauka: Ben Phiri’s doctorate degree is a case of smart diploma-mills
On 25th July, 2015, the social media was awash with congratulatory messages to Special Advisor to Malawi President Peter Mutharika, Ben Phiri, for obtaining what they called a Doctorate degree.
My immediate reaction after reading the messages was to join the bandwagon and congratulate him. But curious I also wanted to know which university the man others call ‘Prime Minister graduated from and what area he studied.
I was also interested to know how he jumped from not having a first Degree and Master’s Degree to a Ph.D.! I posted on numerous Facebook groups including ‘My Malawi My Views’ and Kusanthula Za Kukhosi Pa Malawi’.
Immediately after doing this, a barrage of attacks on me came from left to right. Young ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters called Cadets loyal to Ben Phiri accused me of jealousy and lack of manners. According to them, it was Ben Phiri’s moment and I was only trying to spoil it because I hate him. They told me how Ben Phiri ‘worked so hard’ to get his new academic credentials. A fast count showed I was alone battling numerous angry people.
I am not one to back off for attacks on me that have no logical facts. The majority of the cadets didn’t even know what their leader was studying and at which university. It took one cadet who must have attended the graduation ceremony to post a scanned copy of a graduation ceremony programme with names of the graduates, one of them being Ben Phiri. I learned that the graduation ceremony was held at Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe. I also learned from the scanned copies that he graduated with a ‘Ph.D. in Leadership Philosophy’ from ‘Cypress International Institute’, Texas in the U.S.A.
A quick google search showed that Cypress International Institute does not exist on the internet. It has no website, no any mention by anybody, news or article. Later, I was told the institution name is actually Cyprus and not Cypress which means the graduation pamphlet might have been wrong. A google search showed some Cyprus International Institute but not from Texas and which doesn’t offer the degrees which Ben Phiri and others obtained at BICC.
An article in the Daily Times of 21st July, 2015 indicated that the Vice Chancellor of the institution is Professor Gusto Tuweh Gadama. A search of Professor Gadama on the internet yielded a result that shows that going by the name Professor Dr. Prince Gadama, he is a Board Advisor of some Cypress Bible College/Institute of US. On its website, Cypress Bible Institute (CBI) indicates that through its’ Apostolic curriculum and home Bible College correspondence program, it seeks to:
1 Help students have the ability to rightly divide the Scriptures.
2 Impart the Oneness message of Acts 2:38 for Bible salvation.
3 Prepare students for the specific local and foreign ministries to which they have been called.
There is absolutely nothing about the academic degrees that were presented by Professor Gadama at BICC!
In his profile on the same website, Professor Gadama is said to be the founder of Gospel Outreach Church International, Apostolic International Organization, and Jerusalem Christian Bible College. The profile further says he is the author of 116 Books comprising of the following: Creativity Studies, Counseling, Ministry, Theological Syllabuses, Doctrinal Subjects, Christian Life Growth, Leadership, Church Government, Health Studies, etc. None of these books and absolutely none was found on the internet. Not on Amazon, any seller or publishers’ website.
Academically, the profile says he is the holder of several diplomas, degrees, and Doctorate degrees, as well as honorary Doctorate degrees. It says he has diplomas in Philosophy of Theology with Christian Leadership International Institute in Republic of Mozambique, Associate Degree in Theology with International Bible College in South Africa, Bachelor Degree in Philosophy of Theology with University of South Africa, Master’s Degree in Philosophy of Theology with Jerusalem University, Doctorate Degree in Religious Philosophy with University of Cambridge, Doctorate Degree in World History with the University of Helsink, Doctorate Degree in Counseling with University of Lasapuenzo. Doctorate Degree in Church management with University Kingdom as well as Doctorate Degree in Leadership Skills and Management with University of Zambia.
He has several Honorary Doctor Degrees from universities and institutes. Not even one thesis for these degrees was found during a search on the internet. No research paper, conference proceedings, workshop reports or just any mention in an academic report about this highly educated Professor was found on the internet.
The only results that were found in abundance on the internet were articles of Professor Gadama presenting academic degrees and honorary degrees to different people in different countries. In all these graduation ceremonies, he was being referred to as the Vice Chancellor of colleges and institutes with different names. It seems this highly distinguished son of Malawi is a Vice Chancellor of many institutions.
An article of February 21st, 2012 on allafrica.com shows that Prof. Gadama presided over a graduation ceremony at the New Water in the Desert Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Brewerville, Liberia. He presented honorary and academic degrees from the International School of Ministry (ISOM) facilitated by Vision International College. Prof. Gadama, presided over the ceremony in his capacity as Vice Chancellor for Africa.
In an article of 26th November, 2014 on inprofiledaily.com, in his capacity as the Vice Chancellor of the Cypress Bible College Prof. Gadama presented a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Religious Study) to Bishop Benda of Liberia amidst hundreds of international students on behalf of the organization. The same article refers Professor Gadama as the founder of the Jerusalem Christian Bible College in Lilongwe.
In a 16th December, 2013 article on Nyasa Times, Prof. Gadama, now in his capacity as Vice Chancellor of the University of Jerusalem, presented honorary doctorates to former Minister of Justice Ralph Kasambara, former Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President John Tembo, former General Secretary of the C.C.A.P Livingstonia Synod Rev Levi Nyondo and owner of New Era Private Schools Mrs Evelyn Jesman.
Apart from Presenting Ben Phiri with an ‘academic’ Ph.D. at the 25th July, 2015 graduation ceremony, Prof. Gadama also presented Honorary Degrees to musicians Ethel Kamwendo and Wambali Mkandawire.
The facts so far indicate that Prof. Gadama backed by his American friends is running well organized diploma mills calling them different names according to the weather, year and place. All the institutions that he has used to present the degrees are a scam. Many of them do not have any footprints on the internet. It is normal that academic institutions have many foot prints on the internet emanating from different academic activities including workshops, conferences and research articles.
Furthermore, Professor Gadama is a fake professor who claims to have many degrees and 116 books to his name. A Professor of that caliber would have his academic work found all over the internet but for Gadama none was found! These people are just milking the unsuspecting gullible people desperate for some degree to raise their profile.
They are also using celebrities to market their diploma mills by giving them honorary degrees. It is incredible how high profile people in Malawi could not notice that Gadama and his institutions are nothing but a scam. It is worrying that some of these people are running the Malawi government. If they can’t notice this diploma mill scam, how can Malawians trust them with running of government business? The news of ‘Dr.’ Ben Phiri is already on Malawi Government news website and the public broadcasting institution Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).
The fact that the Office of President and Cabinet (OPC) and MBC did not do a research on this bogus Ph.D. from a nonexistent institution shows that some of those running these institutions are either idiots or puppets dancing to the tune of this powerful Presidential Advisor who also controls the President and all government business.
With people of such caliber running the government including advising the President, it is no wonder Malawi remains one of the poorest countries in the world. We are not about to improve if we continue having such mediocre characters at the centre of government!
- Nyasa Times introduced a column called ‘Off the Wall Of …’ We will be taking a Malawi Facebook Post of the Day and republish on Nyasa Times.
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Tiyenazoni, hahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These people fool no one but themselves with their bogus qualifications. If your persona is fake and transparent you try enhancing it using equally fake and transparent accolades. Unfortunately because they are blind they don’t realise everyone except their blind loyalists still see through their fake persona.
kaya nzabodza kaya nzowona but thanks for enlighten us .we will be doing thorough research before enrolling for the PHD in future to avoid making mistakes.taphunzirapo
You see that “mmm” character with that long response ? Mbuli yotheratu!
Kuba ndi degree yomwe? Ife sitilola. Akuti “look at your car” … A car is nothing my friend if the mind is rotten.
Why wasting your time doing research about others and publish them here .you must be a fool and full of hate.one thing that you should know is that pple don’t only achieve in life becuase of education only .there many uneducated achievers than educated achievers.Ben has not achieved what he is today because of education.he is actually less educated than yourself.but look at your job after so much eduction,gossip.look at your car ,look at your house you can not compare your status with uneducated Ben .Ben has achieved what he is today through courage,hardworking,prayer ,taking risk and hope.when there was night in DPP he hoped for light.when there was no future he risked and by the grace of GOD he has made to that level.He never earned these characters from any known university but are in him and shall take him to greater heights .even if you take out his doctorate he will not end up in the street he has already made it .he did not apply for what he is today using fake qualifications .even if you write anything against him ,he shall never loose his status.most of your articles are full of hatred.what do gain by trying to expose others fool.lt better that Ben has not and must not respond to you.tell people about yourself and your achievements than doing this.after all what is nyasatimes apart from being a tin vomits from by the Ill.who GOD has blessed no one can curse.mind your business fool.
Economic Success And Education Are Not Directly Linked. But At Certain Levels In Society We Need To Be Role Models, Our Life Becomes A Public Open Page. One Day Truth Will Be Known And We Shall Judge Bwana Ben Or The Media With No Emotions But Facts.
What a tragedy!
Nice article. Well-researched, well-written.
Mr B. Phiri, please tell me this is not true, Mr L. Banda faked a Junior Certificate and he was in hot soup some years back. Lol
ben you are real deal. dont pay attention to the broke niggaz like ntata.
Koma yea. Ben bwera kuno ku Zomba, for a recess and real sabbatical. I will love, kiss and massage you to the bone. You should be hot with your new degree. Lucius uja ndi ine chibwenzi chinatha kale. Mwaa. Fake Ph.D or not, your mine
Inu musiyeni Ben wanga. The guy performs better in bed. As a female cadet,the guy gave a hot game. He also gives out good money. Am now working at National Intelligence B. Because of him. Though i have a baby, we always arrange for some short moments. Bravo Dr. Ben Phiri…. Ndimakukonda
He deserved the insult together with the government as he had insulted the Malawi intellegentia community….. Stupid bustards
Aaaa makosana! Olo Masters imatenga chaka kapena ziwiri kuti munthu aiphule! PhD sipano! Funsani ma Professor a genuine ku UNIMA umo livutira bukhu limodzi kupanga publish! This is an insult to people who are working hard to achieve qualifications. Thumbs up che Mauka for this factual article. Am waiting for mbuli Ben Phiri to defend himself.
Fake degree for Dr. Ben Phiri. I think that accollade is for you and James Mwangali. Fuck off kanunkhire kutali wamva
Wawa Patseni Mauka!
This article is very insightful, and well written. If what has been written is anything to go buy, the guy is just a good researcher.
Otsutsa atsutse. The whole thing really is a scum.
We now know his Phd is bogus but mwamunyoza kwambiri mzanu. All what he wanted was a Phd not this insult.
PH D holder who could not even tender a correct resignation letter? By the way did he forget that he resigned? May be now with his new qualifications the post of advisor will be too junior for him so he will re-submit a corrected resignation letter!! kikiki
Very good and credible facts in this article. This is responsible journalism.
Typical of thugs masquerading as men of God. Today they are mere pastors, apostles, prophets, men of God etc etc. Give them three years, they change their titles to Apostle Dr, Pastor Dr, Evangelist Dr. They are the modern day pharisees, self-exalting. Genuinely educated men of God do not have fancy titles. Their intellect speak for them and most of them are found in mainstream churches like Catholic, CCAP and Anglican. Pentecostals are full of this rubbish that soils the truly educated pastors in their midst.
Very well informed article
Moto anakapanga defend thesis Pano iyo. You guys shud stop lying. I know internet kuMalawi ndi yolira but pole can still search and find info. Cypress , Cyprus. Confusion.com. Timva zambiri. Please stop lying. Ukanama sikucedwa kucha. Enjoy your fake Doctorate Degree whilst DPP is in power coz once out zonse zizaululika.
I pray to God that our 51years old prayer items through our national anthem will one day be answered by the fire of heaven like it happened for Prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 18 vs 38. What we have here is a bogus kind of leadership taking Malawians for granted. They forget that the Founder of DPP did the same and had to face the wrath of the fire of the God of Elijah. Prophet Elijah, standing for truth and justice was overwhelmingly out-numbered in the ratio 1 to 850 by those that stood for deceit and injustice. Similarly, those that stand for justice and truth in Malawi may seem to be greatly out-numbered by those promoting deceit, injustice and oppression of the poor masses. Mind you! Sometime in April, 2012, Malawi woke up to the surprise news that oppression had suddenly vanished, I see that day coming again, Malawians who cry for justice and equity for all will one day wake up again and be utterly astonished at what God has done for us. Serious intercessors, this our season to engage God in earnest concerning the destiny of our Warm Heart of Africa! Long Live Malawi a Moto….send the Fire! For that is the meaning of your name! Viva Malawi burn and destroy all the deceitful sons of the devil!
Wow! Well reserched and well writen. Even the comments are good, ldiots nowhere to be seen, totaly silenced.
Mlomweyi akufuna upulezidenti basi. Nanga masiku anotu tikumafuna ma doctor kuti akhale mapurezidenti. Adzaimira DPP basi. Asakufuna azabe katundu wanga a police akuona ngati sakumana ndi shoot to kill policy.
DoctorGATE indeed! Why is Ben Phiri scandalous in every move he makes?
Eeeee. Zovuzedi. I withdraw my congratulatory message
My comment is simple can a dog bear a human being????? DPP is full of dogs. Late professor bingu left Malawians in the ditch but he was a professor. Now we have APM a professor too and where is Malawi heading to???? dogs in the name of professor will produce fellow dogs in the name of doctors. APM my stand remain unmoved you are not the Head of State in this beautiful land of Malawi but “no matter a lie is sustained but “Truth will always prevail”. Kaya wina afune kaya asafune DPP is a party with dogs only nothing good will come out of it. Mwawona ndalama zoti mube mu account number one mulibe NDE pano mwalowa Ku maphunziro. Mwakhozga soni chomene imwe . This is why you promote “Quota System” for surely you no that you are lazy people you only believe in short cuts. Even all those who will graduate when Quota System is place will remain dull graduates till they die.
Government should quickly intervene. This is the road to diluting Education in Malawi. While others are having sleepless nights reading and researching, others are buying their Degrees from Institutions, Colleges, Universities you may call them that does not even exist. A lot of colleges in America are not recognised. UK is the best in terms of offering University studying. Before its too late, please Ministry of Education do something.
May be the good part of is that almost all those people who graduated on this day at BICC with whether you call it Cypres of Cyprus will not use their Certificates. They will be there just to decorate their rooms but they will be ashamed to use them for the purpose intended to be. In fact there is no one who will recognise them.
I rest my case, and please for the fake Degree holders I wish you well as you prepare yourselves to find a recognisable Institute in order to further your education.
Kodi Lucius Banda nayenso sanalandira degree ya ulemu kuchokera ku Jerusalem University yomweyi?
Great Article from Nyasatimes. I think its high time Malawi voice should send attachés to Nyasatimes and learn how news are cooked and researched for public consumption.
The so called Prime minister Ben Phiri has an intellectual young brother who could not even question the credibility of the University offering the bogus “PhD”- so sad.
Akuchezanitu apa kikikiki
Oooooh! Doctorgate
Can the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) guide us please.What is your role if you seat phwi and watch suct things happening? We immediately demand a press release on this scam professorship; University; and degress!!!
Sad – it’s a result of our culture in Malawi of chasing titles such as ‘doctor’ and ‘minister’.
We want the titles without knowing how much hard-work is involved in actually achieving such genuine distinctions.
All the students want a ‘degree’ – even many employers want to employ people with ‘masters degree’.
Are our local university standards up to scratch to be worthy of these titles after few years of rote study in these colleges? Do our students learn to think for themselves and be real leaders? Sadly not.
Dr Ben Phiri KKKKKKKKKKKK my foot zapachiphwisi basi m’mutu mwangodzadza mamina okha okha udotolo wake wa Ufiti chani ?
I think I am disappointed! How can a sane man do something like this? Is it because Malawians are status oriented yet we do not want to work hard to achieve the desired status? How can the ‘whole’government machinery fail to intercept this kind of deception? And if this is the truth, and I believe it is, I am waiting to see if our State President is going to continue to use Ben as his Advisor and PA!
Am also surprised. I am made to understand that the number of people who graduated on this particular day is high. And all of them did not realize that the whole process they might have been taken through was bogus? Do Malawians do any research to know more about the institution they want to be associated with, especially when it comes to their academics? Fellow Malawians, let us not be consumed with the passion to become professors or docs or whatever – and just follow the simple route! It is not wrong to desire to achieve great things, but that should not be at the expense of our integrity and that of the whole nation.
And even after finding ourselves in reputable training institutions, let us work hard. I am sorry to say that many Malawians that have graduated in the recent years with first degrees, masters, and sometimes even PhD’s have hired their friends to write their theses and desertations on their behalf. I also question the integrity of their supervisors. How can I be somebody’s academic or research supervisor and fail to know that his/her work is not their own? Do we still have fora where a student is supposed to defend their work? For sure our distinguished professors, local and international, leave a lot to be desired. No wonder we have so many people with great qualifications, yet we do not seem to enjoy their contribution, at any level. This is a common challenge – government institutions, church institutions, NGO’s, etc – that has not spared any field. Please, please, fellow Malawians, let us not pride ourselves in fake achievements (if they are achievements at all). I am shocked! I am ashamed! I am disappointed!
Kkkkkkk an absolute disaster of a doctor. The last time I checked you were just a useless ben phiri giving a blow job to mutharika…excuse me I’m driving kkkk.
Pro. Gama, just give every malawian a phd a balanced footing.
Mwati mulowetsepo ndale,nkuona timakhala osadalitsika,jelous,kusafuna Ena achite bwino ayi koma mukanakhala inu.Leave your friends to prosper and God will bless you.Nkuonanso mumalemba nkhani nkuika ma conclusion musanafufuze,ina ndi ija ya Living Waters pastors ku Nsanje.Fruits of hate.
Ben, ngati ukufuna kuti zikuyendele kawotche gown ndi digili ya bodzayo ukhali ndi mtendere
This author himself/herself should get the Doctorate for his thorough and enlightened research. He just needs a platform to defend this article not State House engineered sham graduation. Respect.
I salute you Nyasatimes. Malawians need such couragous investigative information for informed choices.
The Raphaels of this part of our world will not all ‘Fade to Black’ till all Malawians enlightened.
wooow! ife tikatodabwatu? bravo and thank u for enlightening us on this bogus assholes fake façade
Ine kudabwa kuti anthu akulandira ma PHDs, kodi alemba thesis ya 100,000 words, ndawonera momwemo mwambi Wa gulugufe, sindinathyole munkhwani koma ndangodutsamo, kuvala mukhanjo ndi chipewa ndizophweka koma akati mukalasi, eeeeeeeeeeee, sikuvuta kwake.
Great article. Cant this fake & bogus professor be arrested & proscuted. Am afraid we may be having people heading institutions in Malawi with qualifications from this conman. Ayayayaya. And beggar man Gwanda Chakwamba was bulldozed to get one of his own!
Even the president himself, thats how he got those silly papers, that is a reason y he is helping his siblings to do the same. Tikuoneni Dr!!!!!.’ Kadye a Dokotala!, Taona ma doko ife, Tapita ku chitedze Agriculture ukawaone ma Dr osati zanu za MCDE zo.
Ben Phiri, bwanji penepo? Akutembenuzatu anzako adziwa kufufuza..muhahahahaha! Just be smart basi people will respect you. You don’t need to disgrace yourself by desrespecting a PhD regalia, leave that to the ink loaded brains.
TIMADABWA IFE KUTI A BEN CHIZUNGU CHOPHWANYIKA MUNALEMBA MMKALATA IJA MPAKA DOCTORATE ??
TAWERENGANI PAMWAMBAPA ANZANU MMENE AKULAVULIRA INK HEEE ???
Hahaha win a ayahuasca.next Tiwonge professor
Dr. Ben Phiri???? Aaaah, how?? No wonder chakuamba has also graduated from the same institution. From which institutions did Ben Phiri obtain his first and masters degrees? Then all over sudden he has a PHD in leadership philosophy?? What is that? This is good research and presentation of facts from the person who has writen this article. I strongly believe there are intentions to bring this little guy into mainstream governance with these bogus papers. Bwana Ben If you may arrange for a public lecture on your topic of research with a couple of well known Dr’s and Proffesors attending to bombard you with questions and checks will you be able to do that? Simukaphwisa??
Kungofuna kutitengela kumayeselo basi.. Osangokhala nkumadya makobili mukubawo bwanji?
And this Ben Phiri guy will eventually be president of DPP empire and unfortunately Malawi kikikikiki.Alomwe ndiwoputsa kwabasi.They are as evil as they are crooked.
Yes PhD in leadership, good choice as it prepares him to take over. Fools will always remain fools. Yes it gives him the what he thinks is a status symbol a leader should have but look around the world, real world leaders don’t have a PhD and they are millions away better leaders that than these PhD dpp thugs.
Please don’t devalue PhDs people work very hard to get.
To prove that we are indeed heading for disaster, there are hundreds upon hundreds who see nothing wrong with Dr. Ben Phiri and are actually cheering him on. These are also clowns that are reproducing at an exponential rate, bringing in more illiterate. If you want to be called a doctor why not just go to school? It’s actually not just this baboon, the Muluzis, Joyce Banda and others of such caliber accept these phony doctorates. Doesn’t it occur to you that dignified leaders elsewhere refuse these? It’s never too late to go to school. Kaphunzileni! Osati ma excuse me week! Ayi fees ndinaalibe! Ayi koma umasiye! Tonse mouth tinali news and sangatheletu, koma timayesabe. Osati ubulutu wanuwo. Mwatikwana already ma dokotala
Kkkkkkkkk is a joke eeeeeh kkkkkkkkk a fragile state full of idiots and fulls
Some solid investigative reporting work there, and a great article.
Can’t believe someone did something like this. Why sully the name of the PhD?
Of course “professor” Gadama is a relative to one conbishop Patricia Pindeni….
Originally, the real name of the man you call Professor Gusto Gadama is Gustino Gadama. He comes from Mulosola Village, about 1 km from Zomba Air Base along Zomba – Kachulu Road next to Chimpeni Estate in T/A Mwambo, Zomba.
If you want to know facts about this conman, just go there and ask for Gustino Gadama’s mother, you will be shocked. I won’t say more, Patseni’s research will be beefed up with some hard facts if he uses this info.
Let us know more
As far as I am concerned, whether he attains a bogus doctorate or not, Ben Phiri will always remain a scumbag . And the paper which he obtained from the bogus institution is worth less than a piece of toilet paper.
Shaaah! It is a shame to APM and the government of Malawi government. Dausi! Give Patseni Mauka a job at your pathetic intelligence……you guys can learn few things from him
Mawu mawu mawu! Tell them brother!
The research o f the writer is awesome,we have numerous degree mills……around,cant wait for a response from the recepient
How did he enroll for a PhD programme. I know this poor IQ guy.
Zowona zake izo. I didnt do PhD. Infact I paid certain poor azunguz to write something similar to Thesis. Dollar yakeso yakuba ku BOMA ku
kkkkkkkkkkkkk
Malawians are just stupid! Simple and clear. The way they so easily believe things even when a little thought will show otherwise…..make me wana puke!!!
Nice article! Just watch out while driving now…..
Ikanakhala Joisi Banda Zinali Bwino Poti Ndi Ben Phiri Zaipa Shaa Malawi Wa Lero.