By Joel Nkhoma and John Saukira
The escape of Malawian self-proclaimed prophet, Shepherd Bushiri, and his wife Mary, from South Africa, where they had been based the past few years, back to Malawi, is continuing to make the waves in both countries, with the Malawian presidency denying that it played a role in the saga.
The Bushiris are facing a number of charges in South Africa, including money laundering and theft and were out on bail having spent two weeks in jail after their arrest.
The South African media has been awash with speculation that the Bushiris had been flown out on board a flight used by President Lazarus Chakwera, who returned from a working visit in South Africa on Saturday morning.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing at State House in Lilongwe, the presidential Director of Communications, Shaun Kampondeni, clarified that every passenger aboard the presidential flight had been verified by the South African security apparatus and that the Bushiris were not part of it.
Kampondeni also referred to a statement released by Malawi’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirming the same position.
Both Kampondeni and the statement disclosed that the presidential flight, which was scheduled for departure around 15:30 hours, was subjected to a 7- hour delay with the South African authorities citing undisclosed security concerns.
The flight touched home at KIA in Lilongwe after midnight.
“After leaving the Waterkloof Military Air Base in Pretoria, the presidential plane stopped over at OR International Airport to collect government officials who were part of the advance party,” reads the statement in part.
Presidential press secretary, Brian Banda, said President Chakwera and his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, have since held a telephone conversation to discuss the aftermaths of what he termed as ‘a very cordial welcome by the South Africans.’
Asked by reporters to indicate whether the presidency was going to assist in extraditing the escapees, Kampondeni emphasized the presidency had absolutely nothing to do with the matter, pointing out the state has all the vital agencies which were expected to discharge their responsibilities.
“The presidency believes in the rule of law and that those agencies that have the responsibility to collaborate with the South Africans are expected to do their bit,” he said.
Prophet Bushiri has lived in South Africa for over seven years and has accumulated a huge fortune that puts him in the spotlight.
Addressing reporters in Lilongwe last week, Bushiri said he fled from the rainbow nation because he feared that his life was in mortal danger but also doubted he would receive a fair trial there.
“I am ready to go back once I have assurances it’s going to be a fair trial,” said Bushiri fondly referred to as Major 1 by his devotees.
