By Chisomo Phiri
Principal Resident Magistrate Roderick Michongwe has on Wednesday ordered Gusto Gadama, 55,to pay a fine of K3.4 million or in default serve 4 years in prison for operating higher education institutions and conferring higher education qualifications without the authority of National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).
Gadama who was convicted last week was accused of running unregistered universities, Cypres and Jerusalem Universities, which contravenes the higher learning act.
Making the ruling, Michongwe said Gadama was well aware of what is required to operate a university and offer higher education qualifications but he decided to go against the law.
The magistrate also said the conduct by Gadama saw a number of people losing money ‘as they paid for nothing’.
He said people were fooled to think they were qualified when actually they had no qualifications.
Michongwe therefore, went ahead to order Gadama to pay a fine of K1.7 million on each count or in default serve 2 years in prison for each count.
The custodial sentences are to run consecutively.
On her part, NCHE Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Ambumulire Phiri hailed the ruling saying it is a step in the right direction.
She said the sentence will send a lesson to other institutions that are operating without authority from Nche.
