IF I WERE: Ben Phiri

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, I would come out in the open to clarify the controversy surrounding my qualifications.

If I were the honourable minister, I would appreciate that as a public officer, I owe Malawians an explanation on whether I have a PhD and, crucially, where I obtained it, be it from Jerusalem Bible College or Cypress University.

Oh yes, Mr. Minister, by setting the record straight, it would not only help clear my name but also put the controversy to rest.

I would do that because it does not look right that a whole Cabinet minister, who was once the incumbent President’s aide, should be implicated in such serious allegations.

There are lots of people who thrive on such negative issues, especially on social media and they have already gone to town and the only way to shut them up is prove that I am a real Dr. Ben Phiri by producing the necessary documents—simple as ABCD

That is if I were one Ben Phiri, but I am not him!