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By Jonisayi Maromo 
1 hour ago
Pretoria – The Black First Land First (BLF) said Tuesday that it was clear that fugitive Malawian charismatic preacher, self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri, will not get a fair trial in South Africa as he is being “persecuted.”
“It is clear to all impartial people that the South African government has waged revenge against the Prophet Bushiri. The South African government is not interested in the rule of law. He is interested in tarnishing the prophet’s name, ”said BLF President Andile Mngxitama, a former member of Parliament.
On Monday it emerged that the South African authorities have issued three additional arrest warrants, for different rape charges registered with the South African Police Service in 2018 and another registered in 2020, against Bushiri.
In August, Bushiri’s accusers were interviewed by the eNCA television news channel. The women, whose identities were hidden, claimed they were members of the congregation at the time they were brought to the attention of Bushiri and were raped in a Pretoria hotel.
On the other hand, Bushiri has argued that women were trying to extort money from him. He said that several policemen also participated in the extortion.
Mngxitama said the charges against Major 1, as Bushiri is affectionately called by his followers, are “fabricated.”
“The latest negative propaganda pushed by the media against Major 1 is a desperate attempt to divert the focus from the clear and legal demands made by the Prophet Bushiri to come and answer the charges against him. It is clear that the South African government has no case against the prophet, hence the fabrication of charges and fueling the media frenzy in an attempt to carry out a trial by the media, ”Mngxitama said.
“It is clear that the Prophet Bushiri will never receive a fair trial in South Africa under the Ramaphosa administration. Stellenbosch is threatened by the prophet, hence the persecution we see. Black First Land First (BLF) calls on the South African government to stop the persecution of the Prophet Bushiri and comply with their demands to guarantee his right to a fair trial and security. “
Bushiri and his wife Mary, who were on bail on charges that included fraud and money laundering, fled South Africa and returned to Malawi earlier this month.
The escape caused friction between Pretoria and Lilongwe, as it was speculated that the Bushiris had been smuggled out of South Africa on the presidential plane of Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera. Chakwera was in South Africa for a working visit.
The Hawks delayed Chakwera’s departure, following talks in Pretoria with President Cyril Ramaphosa, to search the presidential plane and scrutinize the identities of all passengers, according to Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
Hours after the minister revealed this, Bushiri and his wife surrendered to the Malawi police and were later released by a court in Lilongwe.
On Monday, Bushiri said the additional arrest warrants issued on rape charges were part of a conspiracy against him.
“I am not shocked or surprised that the media reports arrest warrants because they are just part of the larger crusade to try to pursue my name in the media by a team of the same white cops, especially the Hawks,” he said. Bushiri, leader of the popular Church of the Enlightened Christian Gathering.
“For the record, it is trite that when an arrest warrant is issued, law enforcement agencies proceed to make the arrest; not to leak information to the media as has always been my case with these white policemen ”.
The clergyman vehemently denied the rape accusations.
African News Agency (ANA)
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