The Principal Resident Magistrate Court in Lilongwe has ordered Professor Gusto Gadama to pay K3.4 million for operating unregistered universities, Cypres and Jerusalem Universities.
Gadama, aged 55, was convicted last week on charges of running these higher learning institutions illegally, violating the higher learning act.
In his ruling, PRM Rodrick Michongwe emphasized that Gadama’s actions undermined higher education in the country, deceiving individuals into believing they possessed legitimate qualifications.
Ambumulire Phiri, representing the National Council of Higher Learning (NCHE), expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, considering it a precedent that would deter others from operating such unauthorized institutions.
The court’s ruling stipulates that Gadama must pay K1.7 million for each count or face a four-year jail term, with two years for each charge, rendering the conferred qualifications useless.
