Entrepreneur and social media influencer Kondwani Kachamba Ngwira has defended Mzuzu University (Mzuni) amid an academic fraud scandal.
Mzuni has suspended some staff members and withheld the graduation of 55 students over suspected academic irregularities.
The university said the 55 students are part of a group of 103 whose Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) portals were allegedly compromised.
Reports claim some degrees, including distinctions and credits, were improperly awarded, while some final-year students have been asked to repeat their studies from Level One.
In a statement released Wednesday evening, Mzuni said investigations are ongoing with technical support from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the university’s legal counsel.
“Currently, the investigations are continuing with technical support from the ACB and the Mzuzu University Legal Counsel. None of the suspected students is a first-class award candidate which, in the social media claims, would be equated to a distinction,” reads part of the statement.
The university added that some staff members mentioned as suspects have been suspended to pave the way for smooth investigations.
Amid public debate, Kachamba weighed in on his official Facebook page after being asked to comment on the matter. He described Mzuni as a prestigious institution and said the university’s ability to detect alleged fraud demonstrates strong internal systems.
“If they were able to catch academic fraudsters, it tells you that their monitoring systems are working,” he wrote.
Kachamba added that fraud exists in many sectors, including banks and businesses, and that identifying and removing wrongdoers reflects institutional competence.
He accompanied his post with a video of a past academic competition in which Mzuni students defeated Makerere University.
The scandal has triggered mixed reactions, with some questioning academic integrity and others praising the university’s swift action.
