University of Malawi honurs JZU Tembo with doctorate

March 22, 2016 Nyasa Times Reporter 65 Comments

Former opposition chief and  Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president John Tembo has been honoured with a prestigious degree of doctor of philosophy in leadership management by University of Malawi (Unima).

JZU Tembo: Honoured by University of Malawi
JZU Tembo: Honoured by University of Malawi

Tembo, who served as chairperson of University of Malawi Council in the 1970s when MCP was in power and he was regarded as the country’s ‘strongman’, will be conferred the honorary PhD as part of the Unima 50th Anniversary Celebrations.

He will receive the PhD in the Great Hall at Chancellor College in Zomba alongside the third graduating class of 2014/15 academic year.

The retired politician, who once served as Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi, already holds a bachelor of arts in political philosophy from the University of Roma (also known as Pius XII College) in Lesotho.

“I am pleased to convey the decision by the Council of the University of Malawi that you be awarded an honorary degree, a Doctorate Degree in Leadership and Management for the outstanding leadership in Malawi and beyond,” reads a letter addressed to Tembo from the University Office in Zomba signed by deputy university registrar Ashanie Gawa dated February 29 2016.

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65 replies on “University of Malawi honurs JZU Tembo with doctorate”

  1. May I dispute Titherward Wendo’s remarks that Tembo was at the University of Basutoland between 1964 and 1975. It seems to me that Wendo’s comments,are misleading and bunkum.The years he as mentioned ,1964 and 1975 Tombo was already in active politics with an aim of succeeding Banda when the former succumbed to natural circumstances.But it didn’t turn that way.SORRY!!!!

  3. Really happy! This is a great idea. He has been recognised, respected & honored while alive! Let’s look for more of such, encourage them so they can be more productive.

  4. Yes he deserves it as he could order any woman to go and get ……. by him and the husband would escort the woman to him freely and respectfully!Only Drs do that amuna enanu mungazithe?Ndaluta!!!!1

  5. Every Malawian has a fundamental right to write what he or she deems right regardless of ethnic differences.I strongly feel that John Tembo does not in anyway qualified to be awarded PH,D for his past cruelty and disregard for others’ human and democratic rights which every Malawian of integrity and compassion deserves.As the highest institution in the land,Malawi University has itself to blame for it’s thoughtless and lack of sense of pride.SHAME!!!!

  7. Let’s be accurate. There is no University of Roma. There is La Universita di Roma, popularly referred as La Sapienza. JZU Tembo did not attend La Sapienza.

    He attended Pius XII Catholic University College, Roma, Basutoland. Between 1964 and 1975, this institution changed its name twice and finally became known as the National University of Lesotho, which is the name it has retained to this day.

    The difference between inaccurate and dishonest journalism is one of intention; both have the same effect: they misinform the public.

  9. I do not like MCP as a party but i like baba john Tembo as a person. He is a strong man. constructive and a great leader , All the best baba. You deserve it. you fought a good fight and there you are mphoto yako

  10. Obviously some people were born with jelousy and envy and this is an example of it. Had it been that the degree was being offered to a southerner bwezi kuli kwe kwe kwe! now its Tembo kuli ziiiiiii! anthu oipa inu. Analandira a first lady koma iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! kukhala ngati alowa ufumu wakumwamba ndi kuyankhula zopanda pake lero chigawengachi nacho chalandira yake ndiye mukuti ‘thank you’ hahahahaha a Malawi. Very shameful people.

  12. I am not an MCP supporter.Its true a leader is judged by the way he/she keeps his/her house intact all the time no matter what. Whether in bad things he displayed some strong leadership.After retirement it looks he is not interfering from behind.Thank the CHANCELLAR (PETER) FOR ENDORSING.This would have not happened during there MCP. rule.I hope he will acknwledge this to Peter.

  13. Its not a strange thing for JZU to have that type of Degree. He did a lot though failed to proceed to Presidency.

  14. hey pple am happy that the decision has come out to honour Tembo and if u gat issues here go to hell,,,,why can’t u just be happy for once,,,,,no matter wat he Wil be honored,,,,, and amene zikumuwawa akakolope lake malawi,,, and it should go dry,,,,,,,,ooooops am happy for you,,,Mr Tembo..

  15. Those who are calling Hon Tembo names; here is my humble request, name just one and I mean just one post one party president who has no connection with murder. Now if political leaders have murdered in the multiparty era, what could make them any better if they were given the opportunity of ruling during one party period?

  16. Unima has run out of ideas. Tembo anatizunza ife – kupha nkati.
    I was also surprised that they gave another degree to National Bank Chief Executive. At National Bank the service has gone down in the recent past. You are made to wait for hours in order to get service. The queing system is failing. you wait more than an hour to get service. The national Bank has turned their banking halls as waiting lounges where they have put airport chairs and TV as if we go the bank as a hotel lounge. We do not need sitting and watching TV in the bank we need service. The bank has 8 teller counters and you find only three working and five have no people. We spend more time at the bank than at the office. This is why Malawi can not develop. The people like National Bank Chief Execute does not deserve the degree because he has no vision he thinks people go to his banks to seat and watch TV. Unima wake up honour people who help Malawi to develop. National Bank can not even employ people to fill in the empty teller counters. It is a shame that you award people like Mr. Patridge who are clueless on what their customers needs and wants are. Unima kodi Patrage anakupasani ndalama zingati. I can also pay up for my honorary degree. Your roll as university is to teach and educate people like Mr. Patridge to know their roll in this economy. Not to reap off people with their charges, interest rates and make them que for hours for the very expensive services charges. Malawi Government please rescue us from these Banks and give penalty for poor service. Bankers Association is full of crooks who want the citizens poor and the bank rich and not even knowing what to do with the money like National bank of Nyasaland.

  18. Mr.Tembo,come out of retirement, you can save malawi from all the looters,
    my advice to malawians, to save yourself this is the man,give hi absulate power for 15 years
    to get things right. Kamuzu BANDA will be very happy to see him as leader. with Mr.Tembo
    Malawi will be back to Glory days of Kamuzu Banda, there was very little coruption during his days. NO ONE DAREDto touch public MONEY.There was food for every one.medecine for every one. LAW and Order was there. Mr.Tembo,think about it

  20. For all the bad things you can say about Hon JZU there is no proof that he did wrong. He has never been found guilty so everything is heresy. But one thing that you must know is that JZU has always been a performer in whatever he has undertaken , as a teacher, as a reserve bank governor and all organizations that he chaired performed well. That is leadership. Even if he wasn’t given this honor he has his own degree and most of you writing sarcastic comments don’t have and were even babies during the Kamuzu era. I for one says CONGRANTS JZU

  22. PHD in what?? and Atatsala ndi 1 week kuti afe zoona zimenezo? Osamupatsa PHD in Funerals imene anapha nayo anthu ambili in MCP leadership? Demet UNIMA

  23. Please unima kids don’t take this one sitting down. boycott boycott if you are real college material

  24. he does not deserve it full stop. why is the university stooping so low awarding honorary to pple who have contributed evil in Malawi. U dont have a research department to find out the evils he has committed during the one party era? Then if that is the case award doctorate degrees to all people in Malawi who are 70 years and above if you do not know what to do with your honorary papers

  26. Chakwera makes me to respect JZU Tembo more than I used to before he (Chakwera) took over the leadership of my party (MCP).

  27. it’s a good move but try also to award honarary degrees to those that hv achieved alot but r not within political parameters

  29. What a cheap institution? UNIMA has gone berserk forget about it.Banda himself did not trust and respect the killer,he could easily elevated him to Presidency when he was aging..UNIMA has lost international celebrity.SHAME!!!

  30. Another bombshell.Shame now is doctor for what? Is Malawi University going berserk? What a cheap university? With all that blood in his hands? Please God the Almighty curse Malawi for its sins.

  31. sikusinja@4, uli ndi umboni wanji okuti boss tembo analakwila aliyense? i hate motherfuckers like you who talk shit because they have a mouth, (or in this case, a computer)

    dr tembo has never in his life been convicted of a single crime. lelo anthu akupha anapweri, akutenga ma tractor, akupanga ma cashgate, akugula ma prado, akudya za uranium, akugula ma tanker 70, akuba half trillion etc etc…uzikula mphwanga. msonko wako ukudyetsa ambili. machende ako.

    congratulations obaba otembo. i’m sure you won’t go crazy over an honorary doctorate. i’d even be embarrassed to flaunt it.

  33. Sikusinja do you have evidence for your statements. \do not be archaic just being contented of gossip and talking as a gospel truth to preach. Mukadatssalira kwabasi

  34. jzu ndi dolo anawauza Atumbuka onse kuti azipita kwao kumpoto azikaphunzitsa mbweni mbwenu congratulations

  35. Mmmmmmmmm papa sorry for this you don’t have even teeth to bite UNIMA is giving you popcorn hey.

  37. I have never ever liked John Tembo, who is the architect of the qouta animal, 1989 forced teacher ‘deportations’ and ethnic divisions in Malawi. I do however forgive; hence my endorcement of John Tembo’s recognition by Unima.

  38. Wives very important in a man’s life. If only the wife was a live Hon Tembo couldn’t be appearing in this photo with a dirty tie. All the same congrats

  39. alawi can vote anybody into power becoz we do not have the experience to learn who the good leader is.How could you tell Malawians that JZU was agood leader when everybody knows that he isn’t a leader at all.Even the Late Kmuzu new that there was no leadership in John Tembo that is why he gave the mantle to Gwanda Chakwamba.Shame!

  44. M.C.P would have been finished if leaders like Tembo were not there. People became shaken and moved away because of money. This never happened with Tembo. You deserve it. God bless you

  46. Disgraceful. The guy murdered his fellow citizens. The Mwanza Four will be turning in their graves. He may be an old man but we should remember him as the thug he was.

  47. It couldnt get any better for JZU. Having escaped murder charges now he is getting a PhD. For what? For running the most murderous regime in malawi without facing consequences!!! You really deserve a PhD for that: Doctorate in clandestine killings!!

  48. Congrats! This guy demonstrated strong political ideology. There was a time when ruling parties could ‘ buy’ opposition parties but this guy didn’t succumb to such pressures. In the end MCP survived to this end while other parties faded as they were sold by their leadership. His lack of political prostitution is good for democracy.

  50. General information: for a person conferred with an Honorary Doctorate(Honoris Causa in Latin,which means For The Sake of Honour) they are not supposed to be addressed with a prefix of ‘Dr’.
    This is so inorder to distinguish between the Academic degree and an Honorary one.
    By the way do you know that an Honoris Causa degree can be withdrawn from the recipient?

  51. This Chancellor College is a stupid university and its being used by DPP trying to fool us. The chancellor is covering up the degree given to the dust bin lady and DPP wants to get hold of John Tembo so that they can reach Chakwera through John Tembo.

    This is Crap. stupid degree. Why should a senior citizen of his caliber line up with the children for a useless degree.

    Baba o’Tembo, musapiteko kumeneko.

  52. During his time at the University Senate, many bad things happened at the University.
    There were many political arrests of University lecturers especially at Chancellor College.
    What then is JZU being honoured for?

  53. Is this not the same man who championed repatriation of teachers from the Northern Star. And we wrote poems like the “Northern Star shall still shine”. The paper plant project in Chikangawa flopped because of him. He called it Thengere or the Dead North, then. Now every body is scrumbling for each and every tree they can find. Soon it will be a desert. Some idiot then decides to give Gold finger accolades. Shame!!! Have we forgotten the Mwanza Accident. A Chair once said “a Malawi mumaiwala nsanga”. Mukhonza kulolera kuthilidwa Doom Mkamwa.

  54. i differ with those congratulating mr Tembo ,
    he was a dictator and racist, he ordered all teachers to go back to their regions

  56. Munthu watha kale uyu nde kumampatsa PHD? What for? Where were u all these years?

    PHD yo yokhala nayo pa farm mkumaweta mbuzi?

    Ndale zakupwetekani

  58. UNIMA has the right to honour anyone for any degree as the authorities deem fit. However being a taxpayers funded institution they have to be sensitive on feelings of the general populace. Tembo presided over one of the most brutal regimes in Malaw and his name was synonymous with Tambala wakuda. Instead of a honourary award Tembo owes Malawians an apology for his role in the MCP era. Otherwise we are setting a bad precedent.

  59. That is very welcome development to honor someone while alive this what we want this man contributed Malawi’s development with maturity. Well done UNIMA

  61. This is why the history of Malawi is so wrong and God keeps punishing us. I wonder what the families of some of the people who were left widows and orphans by the decisions made by JZU are thinking that the guy is being honored for leadership.
    HItler did some good things for German but they can not give him awards simply because he caused irrevocable harm and hurt to a lot of people.
    People like JZU were in the forefront of making tribalistic decisions and homicidal decisions they dont deserve such accolades except from within MCP.
    This is why even new leaders take us for granted because they know “amalawi sachedwa kuyiwala”
    Please teach our kids the truth about Malawi and why we voted Kamuzu and his cronies out.
    Shame on UNIMA!!!!!!

  62. Yes, O baba O Tembo deserves this award. He has demonstrated special leadership skills. You have grown old now but you have always maintained your high standards. Congratulations!!

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