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Shepherd Bushiri has fled the country, despite the bail conditions expressly prohibiting any form of international travel.
Frennie Shivambu, Gallo Images
- The Malawi government has reportedly asked South Africa to submit a formal request for the extradition of the self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary.
- His Information Minister denied that Bushiri had taken a flight on President Lazarus Chakwera’s plane from South Africa and said that Chakwera was “one of the few honest presidents left in this world.”
- Bushiri said he was in his home country because he was a citizen who sought government intervention and feared for his safety.
The Malawian government has reportedly asked South Africa to submit a formal extradition request for the self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary.
The controversial preacher and his wife fled to their home country earlier this week out of apparent fears for their lives. The couple face fraud and money laundering charges related to an investment plan worth more than R102 million.
Earlier this month, the Pretoria Magistrates Court granted the couple a bail of 200,000 rand each and part of the bail conditions prohibiting them from leaving the country. Bushiri, known for his extravagant lifestyle, has yet to face criminal trial.
According to an eNCA report, Malawi’s Information Minister Gospel Kazako said there was nothing the country could do other than wait for a formal communication from the South African authorities. “He is in this country and we are not hiding him. What we are saying here is, let’s have formal and official contact. We know the treaties, we know the agreement, we know so many things that bind us from South Africa, but we will not deal with this in a informal “.
SEE | Bushiri defends his decision to flee South Africa, claims he will not get a fair trial
Kazako said that the Malawian government had not received any request allowing them to give their position on the matter.
“It is prudent for us to wait until the South African government contacts us,” he told the broadcaster.
Kazako also denied allegations that Bushiri had taken a flight on President Lazarus Chakwera’s plane from South Africa, saying that Chakwera was “one of the few honest presidents left in this world.”
Acting Presidential spokesman Tyrone Seale also denied that Bushiri had left with Chakwera, according to the Sunday Times.
Bushiri claimed he flew out of South Africa on Wednesday, but authorities have not confirmed this.
According to the Sunday Times, the couple eloped sometime between Monday and Friday. The Chakwera delegation is believed to have landed in South Africa on Thursday and departed on Friday. Chakwera has denied having prior knowledge of Bushiri’s escape, but questions have been raised about the timing of his visit, as well as a seven-hour delay in his departure.
In a rant of more than 20 minutes Saturday night, Bushiri said that if he fled any trial, he would never have issued a statement announcing that he was in Malawi.
Bushiri said that his wealth and property in South Africa were still intact and that he had not sold anything or transferred money, showing that he was not running away from anything, News24 reported.
He said he arrived in Malawi on Wednesday and had not yet contacted the government because, at the time he arrived, President Chakwera was leaving for South Africa.
Bushiri said he was in his home country because he was a citizen seeking government intervention. He said he needed guarantees for his safety from the South African government.
Bushiri added that his life had been in danger on many occasions and, as a result, he opened a case after he was nearly shot. He said that he had also opened cases against investigating officers who had arrested him and that nothing had happened to them, so he felt there was a conflict of interest.
He said he believed he would not get a fair trial if the same people he had opened the cases against, before he was arrested, were also involved in the case.
Bushiri said:
In February of this year, I was almost shot in Sandton at a gas station. I opened a case in SA, there are pictures, I think the Sandton police are aware of this case. Until today nothing has been done. I feel like my life is not safe in South Africa. So many times I’ve had assassination attempts. I feel like my life and my wife’s are not safe. I would not want to die if my name is not clean. This is the reason why I decided to come to Malawi.
Bushiri said he was asking the South African government to institute independent investigators. He said he would meet formally with the government of Malawi to assist him and engage with the government of South Africa regarding his safety.
However, Kazako told eNCA that no contact had been made and that the Malawi government was unaware of Bushiri’s exact whereabouts at this time.
– Compiled by Raahil Sain
