By Vincent Gunde
Political activist Bon Kalindo has praised for the first time newly appointed Minister of Education responsible for Higher Education Dr. Jessie Kabwila, for announcing that her office will embark on a mission of tracking down all those possessing fake Certificates, Degrees and Diplomas in public service.
This is the second time for Kalindo to shower praises to a cabinet Minister serving in President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera’s cabinet after doing the same with newly appointed Labour Minister Vitumbiko Mumba for vising companies and factories inspecting the welfare of employees.
Kabwila gave a 14-day ultimatum for public service employees to submit their credentials such as certificates, Diplomas, and Degrees in what many has described this as a good move by government but coming too late with elections fever between mouth and nose in September, 2025.
Speaking through an audio clip, Kalindo said Malawi is flooded with fake Certificates, Degrees and Diplomas claiming that others possessing those academic credentials are of disgrace to the offices they are working as they cannot express themselves in English.
Kalindo has also claimed that others holding these academic credentials are Standard eight and Junior Certificate holders and found their way into the offices by direct appointment or being sons, daughters and relatives of those having their names in government books.
He has asked Dr. Kabwila to demonstrate seriousness in the job of tracking down those with fake academic credentials and she should refrain from politicking her office as this will be undermining her office and her herself.
The activist said tracking down fake certificates is a good program giving Kabwila distinction that as President of the poor people in Malawi, he cannot be sitting down to be watching at those who possesses fake degrees above the deserved ones.
He said there are others who are possessing Professors and Doctors Degree holders from Universities such as Cyprus, Jerusalem, ESAMI and MIM saying these must be investigated with claims that others do not qualify to have made it for those Degrees they are possessing.
“If one is doing a good job, I have to give credit, genuine certificates, Degree and Diploma holders are languishing in poverty outside while those with fake degrees are singing good songs in the government,” said Kalindo.
He has advised Kabwila to extend tracking down of fake certificates to the Malawi Parliament on the claims that some Parliamentarians are not fitting to be parliamentarians besides them holding the highest educational qualifications on the land.
Kalindo has assured Kabwila that he will be monitoring the exercise and rate her advising her not to spare anyone be in government or opposition parties that whoever is found with or have used fake certificates must be arrested, prosecuted and pay back the money he or she has been receiving for years of service.
