I admire Prophet Bushiri, says Lucius but Malawi iconic musician remains Catholic -Report

Malawi top musician-cum-legislature Lucius Banda has said he admires multimillionaire South African based Malawian Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and said those on smear campaign against him are unfair to the “Major 1.”

Banda, Malawi’s top musician, who is also Balaka North legislator for the United Democratic Front (UDF), said on a private visit to South Africa, said he stopped by to fellowship with Prophet Bushiri’s Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) in Pretoria on Monday night and was impressed with the respect accorded to the Malawian prophet, according a report in The Nation newspaper.

“We live in our world as Malawians and that has not helped us. After fellowship, I realised we have been somehow unfair to Bushiri by viewing him with a negative eye instead of being rational,” the paper quoted the iconic secular musician as saying.

He added: “It is worth noting that thousands of people are converging at one place because of a son Malawi. I admire him for that.”

Banda, who is a devout Catholic,  said he has not joined Bushiri’s ECG as he remains a Catholic member but appreciate the prophet’s Christian way of leadership.

“Just like the Bible says that ‘out of the eater comes something sweet’ I was touched by the gesture of giving out food to the poor during that hunger in January and February. Through the criticism he has been going through, I took interest in seeing his side of the story,” Banda is quoted as saying.

The legendary musician said Prophet Bushiri is “successful,  in terms of congregation and as a businessman.”

He added that “success brings about haters” hence Bushiri courting many attacks against him.

“ As someone who has been criticised, at times unfairly, and faced the wrath of people over rumours, I tend to be sympathetic towards people who are treated harshly, especially when it’s based on unfounded rumours.”

Bushiri’s  church is one of the fastest rising in Southern Africa.

Banda said he was impressed with the Monday fellowship at Bushiri’s church.

“They call it a diplomatic service. I like the teachings and the ideas shared to the gathering.The beauty about it is that it happens on a day that I, as a Catholic normally don’t go to church. Otherwise I can’t say more than that. Issues of faith are supposed to be private.

“Actually, I came here for personal reasons. And I just thought of going there to fellowship. I have attended two Monday services where about 10 000 people gather for prayers. It was during that first time that I took a picture with BJ [veteran politician Brown Mpinganjira] and Ralph Kasambara. But I must say that when I went to ECG, I felt proud as a Malawian to note that it was a son of our soil who makes thousands of people around the world come together and pray,” he said.

During Sunday services, people line up just to enter the church, he said

“The queues are long, with 45 000 plus people attending services, according to the information I have gathered. How I wish it was happening in my country,” he explained.

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