CSOs in Malawi charges up for Bushiri: ‘No to extradition to South Africa!’
The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operating under the banner Malawi Black Economic Empowerment Movement (Mablem) have come gun blazing in defense of Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and wife, Mary, calling on government to stand up for the power couple not to be extradited and face prosecution in South Africa where they are facing money laundering and fraud charges.
The CSOs including the Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) held the news conference at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe that Malawi Government should not be coerced to any extradition request before Bushiri’s security concerns are resolved.
HRCC chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba told reporters that Bushiri, the leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church should be given a chance for a fair trial.
They say that Malawi Government should not be coerced to any extradition request before Bushiri’s security concerns are resolved. They say the Prophet should be given a chance for a fair trial.
“As Civil Society Movement, we have analyzed and understood Prophet Shepherd Bushiri’s decision to return to Malawi as he faced numerous threats and attempts on his life as presented.
“The allegations and threats on Bushiri, must not be taken lightly especially in country which has got one of the highest crime rates in the world. We strongly believe there can never be a trial of Bushiri in his absence we need him alive to answer the charges and justice be seen to be delivered,” said Mkwezalamba.
The CSO have since called on South African Government not to twist issues and change the whole persecution towards his movement from South Africa, but rather address issues that would ensure safety of the Bushiri’s and their right to a fair and just trial is not violated.
“Failure by the South Africa Government to investigate and address the complaints raised by Bushiri and subsequent complaints on the same from civil and human rights activists from Malawi, renders the whole justice process unfair and unfavorable for the Bushiri’s and does not guarantee safety and rights of the same and might lead to an impartial trial in South Africa.”
Meanwhile, Malawi police service arrested Bushiri and his wife, on Wednesday after they handed themselves over to the police at Area 30 when they got wind of their impending arrest following arrest warrant by South Africa to kickoff extradition process.
“The Malawi police service has arrested prophet Shepherd Huxley Bushiri and Mrs Mary Bushiri. This is in response to a warrant of arrest issued by Interpol Pretoria on November 16‚” senior superintendent James Kadadzera the Malawi police spokesman said in a statement.
He said the police had launched a manhunt for the couple on Tuesday.
Rainbow Television Malawi , which is owned by Bushiri, reported on Wednesday that Malawian police officers raided the fugitive’s home in Lilongwe and took the couple into custody.
Police said the couple will be taken to court.
Bushiri’s spokesman, Ephraim Nyondo, denied the couple’s arrest was sparked by the warrant.
He said Bushiri had vowed to present himself to the Malawi police to demonstrate “commitment that he is not a fugitive.”
“He is in Malawi to seek justice, which he believes he cannot be accorded in South Africa,” Nyondo said.
Bushiri and his wife were arrested in South Africa on fraud and money laundering charges and appeared in court last month for alleged financial misdeeds amounting to 102 million rand ($6.6 million). They were granted bail of 200,000 rand each on November 4 and handed in their passports so they couldn’t leave the country, but Bushiri issued a statement 10 days later saying the couple were in Malawi.
Their escape coincided with a working visit by Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera to South Africa, raising suspicions that his delegation had helped the pair.
While South African authorities said they’d established the couple didn’t travel on Chakwera’s flight home on November 13, the Malawian government complained in a statement on Twitter that its President had been improperly treated.
The South African authorities, which are grappling to establish how he left the country, have initiated legal proceedings to secure his extradition in terms of the Southern African Development Community Protocol on Extradition and other legal instruments, to which Malawi is a signatory.
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All bushiri’s butt-lickers May celebrate what looks like his victory, but the man is now doomed and he knows that very well, you May do all the virgils and sing all night insupport of him But the fact is he has put himself in a right corner and May not escape from that, he shouldve stayed and defend himself in SA… He is now a fugitive and no embass in malawi will grand him visa to visit to their countries, even if they do interpol will be waiting for him… The man is now doomed unless he negotiate his way… Read more »
How do you expect justice when he has flouted the same by absconding bail? He never raised these issues in the initial bail hearing, then how do he expect the judges to take him serious
His case has already attracted international headlines as such RSA cannot back down now. They will go to any length to have him and if Malawi govt. put spanners to this then surely we should expect tough times ahead.
You are behind news. Bushiri aleady made these concens some time ago. But govt has done nothing.If his life was in danger, centainly, he had the right to escape.
If South Africa gives Malawi tough time we can also give them tiugh time. We will ensure all South Africa shops from Game to PEP pack up and go.
What is the Malawi government doing about Lindeire who killed Sendeza’s daughter in USA? Why should the issue of Bushiri look bigger? If this thug knew he was innocent why did he run away?
Onse ma crook aziima kumbali ya Bushit ndi mkwazi wake
Wina ndiuja mlangizi waprezident paza achinyata
Mbuzi yamunthu
Money is indeed the root of all evil! With this low level of thinking I dont know how he can lead anything. Shame on you Mkwezalamba.
Where were u when women and girls were being abused? Why did you not issue a press conference? Why r u obsessed with 2 people leaving out so many children,girls and women who are being raped? Ndalama ndi Satana.Mufa nazo za Bushiriyo.
Zitsilu kwabasi. Are you backing up chimbava zoona? Unbelievable.
Big bunch of Jokers! You really think this thief deserves government protection? What brainwashed sick FOOLS!!! Why did you not voice out when he was stealing money from the poor in SA? Apapa nde mudziwatu what Interpol is
Just like any other other citizen, Bushiri isn’t above the law, let him face the law. Let him get tried and should be exonerated by the law. Simple! No need for useless utterances here, if these CSO have alot of cash, they should utilise their resources for bonafide activities. Let him face a fair trial. Papa should know this. Major do it!!! Lol….He’s at a crossroads, a defining moment in his life. He should play his cards very carefully…as it is, he’s already in deeeep shit, no matter how rich or poor you are, you break the law, you need… Read more »
You are an idiot he is not guilty until proven
Rocky Dada did not say that Bushiri is guilty. He said he should be tried and be exonerated by the law. Where does he say that Bushiri is guilt? Even Bushiri himself says that he wants to clear his name in the courts, he is however concerned with his safety (which is not true as Bushir has hundreds of bodyguards). Bushiri should arrange for his safety with the South African authorities and have the trials go ahead
It seems John’s interpretation and thinking capacity are very low! He needs help. I suggest you employ a personal tutor to teach you basics and Bushiri would sponsor the bill. Zikumveka kodi???
Thats the spirit anthu awa asatiwonelere ngati kuti tonse tilibe nzeru that they can intimidate us anytime they want to gone are the days this is new Malawi the fact that our brothers and sisters are in South that doesnt make us prone to intimidation MAJOR 1 is the precious stone we cant afford to let him go just like tha
You are really foolish
@ndalama, a PRECIOUS STONE, what do u mean???
nobody is intimidating noone, beside why did you let him to go there in the first place? Let justice take its course basi. Nobody is above the law.
Bushiri is not going anywhere until we are sure of his safety.
At the same time malawi do not extradict someone except for two reasons.
Murder and treason.
The RSA think they are wiser than us.
Let him go and prove his innocence. Does the law explicitly state that you can only extradite for murder? How can a Malawi extradite its citizen to a foreign country for treason? I have always thought that treason is a crime committed by an individual against his own country?
Its not a question of being wiser or what, he never raised the issue of his safety in court when he was applying for his bail. If all the 5 conditions he raised here were done before the judge right there in RSA and was not attended to, his escape would have been justified. If you say Malawi cannot extradite him, well the loser in this scenario is not the Bushiris but Malawi in general as this will compromise the bilateral relationship between the two countries. People might commit offence here and go to RSA knowing full well that they… Read more »