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- The Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, Malawi, has rejected a request for the ECG Church of Shepherd Bushiri to hold an event on the premises.
- The event was previously held at the FNB stadium.
- The management of the National Stadium of Bingu cited Covid-19 and a African Football Confederation inspection as reasons for rejection.
The ECG church of self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri has been denied the use of Malawi’s National Bingu Stadium for a “Miraculous Night Crossing” service.
In a letter to ECG spokesperson Ephraim Nyondo, which News24 has seen, the stadium management rejected his request for permission to use the facilities, citing preparations by Covid-19 and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
“Despite the communication that the number of attendees will be reduced, it is very likely that the event will attract people beyond even the normal capacity of the stadium. This will contravene the preventive measures of the Covid-19 pandemic,” the letter states .
In addition, the stadium will be under maintenance in preparation for a CAF inspection to be carried out in early January, the letter said.
The letter also said that the stadium management would not have time to repair the damages and losses: “The management may not have enough time to restore the stadium to normal due to anticipated damage and losses during its function. long time for such damages or losses to be repaired or recovered respectively, as seen in past experiences. “
Admission to the church event, scheduled for Dec. 31, is free and on Facebook, Bushiri has encouraged attendees from South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and the United States to travel.
Nyondo says: “We confirm receipt of the letter from Bingu National Stadium (BNS) management regarding the cancellation of our Miracle Night Crossover celebration on December 31, 2020. Our church administration is handling quickly and, with the urgency and speed necessary, the matter sharply. and, therefore, we appeal to all our members and supporters to calm down under the circumstances. We will keep them informed of any planned developments in this regard. “
The service was previously held at the FNB stadium. Nyondo did not comment on why the location had been changed.
The Citizen reported that the change of venue came after an announcement by Bushiri on its Facebook page that the change of venue was the result of “God’s direction.”
Bushiri and his wife Mary face charges of fraud, theft and money laundering in the amount of R102 million in connection with an investment plan.
They have since fled the country to their homeland of Malawi.
Subsequently, South Africa submitted an extradition request to the government of Malawi.
