Malawi paramount chiefs asks govt no to extradite Bushiri to South Africa
Two senior chiefs have asked Malawi government not to extradite Prophet Shepherd Bushiri to South Africa.
This follows a letter by the South African government asking the government of Malawi to extradite Prophet Bushiri and his wife Mary.
In an interview, Paramount Chief Kyungu said that there is no need for the Bushiris to be extradited.
He said Malawi government is obliged to protect its own citizens.
“It is the responsibility of the Malawi government to protect its citizens, in our understanding he is innocent…as far as I am concerned prophet Bushiri is the son of Malawi, he is innocent, he has the right to be protected by his government, and he has not wronged us,” said Paramount Chief.
On his part, Senior Chief Lukwa of Kasungu has also weighed in.
He says Malawi and South African governments before making any decision should consider safety and life of prophet Bushiri.
Lukwa said there are claims that the life of prophet Bushiri has been under threat.
He said there is no need to send the Bushiris to South Africa when it is an open secret that his life is endangered.
“We as Chewas believe that if a child has run away from the bush and seeks refuge in a house, we don’t send that child back to the bush, no,” said the senior chief.
Government of Malawi is on record as saying it will follow the law and procedure in addressing the whole fiasco.
Information Minister and Government spokesperson, Gospel Kazako, confirmed receiving a formal request from the South African government for the Bushiris’ extradition and that Attorney-General is preparing “to proceed for the signature of the minister of homeland security in Malawi.”
He said : “ Once it is signed, it will be submitted to court for issuance of warrants of arrest by the court.”
Kazako said: “It will depend when the minister signs and when the courts will act on the request from the attorney-general.”
The Bushiris are expected to appear in the Lilongwe High Court on Monday, in a matter in which the State filed an appeal against the unconditional release of the charismatic preacher and his wife.
Lilongwe Magistrate Viva Nyimba had ruled that the couple’s arrest in Malawi was illegal as there was no arrest warrant issued by the Malawian authorities. The magistrate ordered their unconditional release.
The couple fled South Africa after being released on bail early last month.
The Bushiris and their co-accused are facing charges charges of theft, money laundering and fraud relating to an investment scheme.
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This chief act like they are not leaders but bias
Greedy chiefs what do you about international relations, let the government to deal with big time criminals. U go mind adzukulu mmidzimo.
Dzulo ku Joni apereka bail kwa wa police ndi mkazi wake. Analandira R50,000 from Bushiri account. Anaitumiza ku account ya mwana amene anagwirirdwa ndi Bushiri. Ndalama zitangolowa mwana uja anasintha nkhani kuti sanagwirirdwe anamuchinda zogwirizana
All the chiefs ankadya za DPP ali mmaluzi masiku ano akufuna adye za Bushiri. Kuonetsa uchitsiru wao onse. How can a whole chief talk this shut asking govt to break laws? Zogwiriridwa ana sizikukukhuzani olo!
Are the two guys saying any Malawian born person who commits crimes in other countries should be protected by Givernment? Thing have changed since old times, your statement only should civic education is required for all our leaders at grassroot levels. South Africans were robbed of their money and we cannot be supporting that behaviours. He should be deported
Kyungu kutemwa makopara, leka lamulo ligwire ntchito
Bushiri seems to be a master manipulator and a very successful one for that matter. After psychological and financially swindling and ruining many innocent believers in RSA, he is now manipulating our gullible chiefs, other pliable church leaders and the general public, to do his bidding. Do these chiefs and other zealouts understand the principle of the rule of law, let alone the intricacies of international law? Bushiri is a fugitive from justice who regrettably bribed his way out of RSA (yet another serious criminal case against him). And yet chiefs still ignorantly claim he is innocent! Bushiri has serious… Read more »
Your wishes will never happen…you dont know how true are stories emerging from south africa. The chiefs have a point even though they dont know law. You should know that the legal framework are derived from the wishes of the people and the chiefs were just expressing their wish, they are not rubbing off the laws. You profit nothing when you are aiding your enemies to catch your fellow malawian. This is why America has tried it’s best not to handover Bush to ICC for Iraq issues. Osamagona these days
If any law was broken, why would anyone be allowed not to face the consequences?
There is just too much smoke, definitely there must be a fire. 🔥.
I thought wisdom comes with age? What a disappointment. One paramount Chief says we should refuse to extradite Bushiri to RSA and some Senior Chiefs, Lukwa included, agree.
It could happen that a week later a South African national commits a henious crime here in Malawi and by some unexplained means flees to his homeland. Are we going to ask Ramaphosa to send us back the fugitive? Is this how you advise your subjects? Don’t mess with legal issues you know nothing about, please.
Bushiri is shameless. Kutinamiza timafumuti ndi ka dollar basi