Bushiri is innocent until proven guilty: But why always him?
South Africa-based leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering Church (ECGC) Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary Bushiri, were arrested by the Hawks on Friday morning, February 1, at their hotel in Rustenburg, South Africa.
As a controversial figure, his arrest, as expected, has been received with polarized reactions.
You have his ‘spiritual sons and daughters’ and, also, his general fanatics who are deeply hurt with the arrest, arguing it’s a mark of persecution for it is written that ‘touch not the anointed ones’.
And you have people—especially Malawians of different divides—who just follow Bushiri arguing that the arrest is a normal legal process aimed at letting the wheels of justice roll on the couple, like anybody else.
It is certain, then, that our response to Bushiri’s arrest, as we always do with any public figures, depends on where you are sitting or standing.
However, there is an interesting perspective regarding Bushiri’s arrest being written by one of Malawi’s finest exports in film industry, Eugene Khumbanyiwa.
Khumbanyiwa takes a swipe at Bushiri’s spiritual children for interpreting the arrest from the ‘touch not the anointed’ perspective.
He ably, and rightly so, argues that Bushiri is going through a normal legal process meant to establish justice and let law takes it course.
Interestingly, he goes further to challenge the ‘xenophobia’ discourse in the arrest, arguing South Africa, from the days of Teba days to Gabadinho, has been welcoming and supportive to many Malawians of good reputation who have never been pounced by the Hawks.
What Khumbanyiwa advances raises deep questions regarding Bushiri. Why—unlike Malawians before him such as the Ernest Mtawalis, Eric Palianais who were always in the media—is Bushiri attracting the jaws of the Hawks? Why, again, is it that what happens to Bushiri breaks the internet, all the social media timelines filled with him?
Well, I have two theories to explain.
One, unlike most Malawians who made names in South Africa, Bushiri belongs to a different taste. He is, arguably, the only Malawian, so far, who does not just attracts millions in South Africa but, also, has a power to influence beyond his church.
In South Africa alone, his church, ECG, has over 700 000 registered members and about 300 followers. You are talking of 1 million people just in his church.
Added to this, he has 3.8 million followers on Facebook, of which, 2.1 million, are South Africans. When he is LIVE on Prophetic Channel, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, you have 40 000 million people, collectively, watching, of which, 67 percent are South Africans. Further, this is the gentleman that has, like a rock star, consistently filled Africa’s largest stadium, FNB Stadium, for three consecutive years attracting over 100 000 people.
These stats, arbitrary as they look, paints a picture of a quite a remarkable figure whose voice has a power to influence millions. Such a person, unlike any other successful Malawian in South Africa, can never be left alone without the watchful eye of the state agencies.
Never.
So its no longer just about his spiritual or economic success: Its now, fundamentally, about his independent power to mobilize and influence. That’s the heart of politics. Trust me, no state would leave such kind of a person alone.
Secondly, mostly in Malawi, I have heard arguments, mostly on social media, about people saying: ‘same fate falling on one person, few people come; but when it’s Bushiri, thousands come in.’
Well, it’s that simple.
The Bushiri’s controls social media in Malawi. He has about 3.8 million followers, just on Facebook, and out of those, about 650 000 are Malawians. His wife, Mary, has about 1 million followers on Facebook and, out of those, about 300 000 are Malawians.
Together, they have an average of 900 000 followers on Facebook. In fact, there is hardly a Malawian with such followership on social media.
To mean, any slight thing happening to them, you may have already about 500 000 people talking about it on their timeless either in defense or challenge. Nowhere, I mean nowhere, would one miss either to directly or indirectly hear or read about Bushiri.
NEVER!
So to the question: Why always Bushiri? The answer is simple. He has a stable financial capacity, he can mobilize thousands and he can speak and influence millions.
Malawi has never had such a figure in South Africa and, arguably, the State can never leave such a figure alone without surveillance. It’s such levels of surveillance that better explains his arrest.
But, of course, as Khumbanyiwa argued, he can afford best lawyers. That’s why we wish him well as the wheels of justices takes a toll on him.
NEVER!
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Fuck you Khumbanyiwa fuck you go to hell what did this man do just because he’s rich go and actor your porn movie idiot fuck you and your mother fucker stop being jealous with someone’s money jut coz your an actor who act porn move you have no money my friend you better stop that fucker your talking about If I will see you I will
Kill you same time defending your stupid xenophobia government just to make the man of god to suffer idiots fuck you with your shot dick just stay with your HIV there fuck fuck fuck fuck
If you read in publications in South Africa, his wife went to buy a jet and paid cash. Bushiri lied that he got a loan from some Flight company and gave authorities fake receipts which the company declined to be theirs and also that they don’t service loans. In most of developed nations red flags are to be raised whenever someone makes substantial purchases using cash. Let him explain in court and he will be vindicated. He has said so many times he doesn’t make people pay for prayers yet so many people have deposited cash in his account.
Even the best run companies in the world do not get this big and this rich in just 5 years. So if you are going to flaunt your wealth, it will be investigated. If you buy 6 year old girls who cant drive a US$150,000 car as a birthday gift, people will come after you so be ready to defend yourself.
Even Jacob Zuma is facing over corruption charges so lets not think there is selective justice.
Whether you like it or not Living God will prove his innocent, above all we people of God we don’t need to diffend our self because we have diffender
the fact that you spelled diffender like that shows you don’t know what your talking about sit down and drink water
The warning is there in the Bible: Jesus said, “In the latter days days, false prophets shall come and preach in my name, beware of them”. John the baptist said when he saw Jesus Christ, “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of men”. When Jesus was being baptized, a voice came from heaven which said,”This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased, listen to him”. It is disheartening to note that many people these days have faith in the false prophets. Some people even travel thousands of kilometres to look for false prophets! Shame, the people you have faith in are neither the lamb of God who takes away the sins of men nor the beloved son of God who pleases him!
Wonderful perception
A thief is a thief, where rich, poor, famous or otherwise.
He cannot ably defend himself if his assets are ceased as the SA government is intending to do. Bushiri is a Malawi citizen. Malawi Government should move in to protect their own.
There no grounds for his assets to be frozen. The court will never grant that. He never acquired the assets through crime. South Africa has good laws with bad law enforcers. That’s why most the cases they go to a died end. To Bushiri is just being victimised. After his bail application this case will be thrown out court due to luck of evidence.
You don’t title a story with an antithesis i.e. an idea you intend to refute/dismiss huh
Such a man to be jailed without his country intervention its nonsense.
I am sorry to his people who would not defend him with lawyers and head of state .
How much they need
How long is he supposed to stay in
Even if you may write good about him, he is a false prophet. Hiring lawyers is a sign of panicking. He cheated people that his father is a prosperous man with farms in Malawi. Money will not always put situations under control. If he could walk in air can he fail to walk on this case.
Why are you judging if your are a good person stupid people who always think they are better than others SA government is a xenophobic government and some stupid Malawians are defending South African government just to arrest Who hasn’t committed any claim just because he’s rich how many people died in South Africa just to be a foreigner in that country those people I can not comment any good news about then coz their mind are not working properly wake up this man and his wife they didn’t do nothing wrong the problem is the government of Malawi with stupid leaders who can not interfere what do you gain from South Africa only xenophobia
your level of idiocy surprises me very much, didn’t realize there were people who are actually this ignorant
Mr Khumbanyiwa is wrong, its not just Bushire. Many Malawian are being victimised to varying extents in South Africa simply for being foreign nationals. It is strange that someone can be remanded in custody for is essentially an alleged financial crime. In addition, why on a Friday? Was it to keep him in custody until Monday? SA courts do not work during the weekend. He has assets in SA more than the alleged R15 million. I ASK THE MALAWI GOVERNMENT TO PLEASE PROVIDE CONSULAR ASSISTANCE TO THE MAN. I am not his fan but let us call a spade and spade. He is being persecuted to being rich and influential.
The reason for the arrest is purely stated (money laundering) then why go offside. All what you have stated in your article is completely schizophrenia. You fail to understand the merits of the arrest by explaining unnecessary truths, its this trash thinking that takes the country backwards to the Kamuzuism.
Like all pastors of today, Bushiri is a thief. He needs to be brought to justice after fooling poor, sick and tormented people.
Hahahaha Chomi Khumalo do not make me laugh. This guys has a lot of journalists like you on his payroll. These are the people who exaggerate his wealth and popularity of course for purposes of attracting cash more his followers. He himself is allover media lying that he inherited part of what he has from a wealthy father from Malawi who is a farmer. Bushiri is mostly caught between a rock and hard place. He has so many skeletons to hide and under those circumstances he was supposed to be media shy BUT he needs the media to make money and in the process he opens a can of worms. In Malawi it was the same thing when he was allover lying that he quit university of education at Mzuzu University when he has never stepped his foot in the corridors of any university.
Bushiri can only survive in a country where corruption and fraud are high because he can buy his way out. If he was in an organised country like Rwanda, Botswana etc, this guy could have been in prison by now. South Africa is a haven for such crooks and that is the reason they have funny and weird crooks masquerading as prophets.
its pity to hear a fellow Malawian castigating another fellow who has proven that all things are possible. Bushiri is a national figure and our government must speak on this shit by those people so called south africans they are taken us for granted why always bushiri? leave bushiri and his ministry alone
Useless article,,there a lot of celebrities who command large following on social media.This is a total different issue,not about money or fame..Let him face the law,,if he is guilty he will face the music,if he is innocent he will surely be acquitted.. Its as simple as that..
THERE’S NOTHING LIKE MONEY LAUNDERING HERE ‘–SOUTH AFRICANS JUST WANT TO SWINDLE THIS MAN OF GOD OF HIS WEALTH —WHERE THERE’S MONEY INVOLVED SOUTH AFRICANS – NIGERIANS –AMWENYE AND NOW ALBINO KILLERS ARE THE SAME –THESE PEOPLE DON’T WANT SOMEBODY TO BE SMARTER THAN THEM ON MONEY ISSUES OOOOH ! !
I must say i’m shocked by the level of ignorance or must i say blind loyalty being displayed by some people here. In your wisdom, what should Malawi Government say to the South Africa Government? The guy has committed a crime and, therefore, been nabbed so what’s the fuss about? Ngati enanu muli pa payroll kuti muzijiya online ndi social media then i feel sorry for you. Find yourself something productive to do rather than keeping vigil on the internet kuti muzipanga defend Bushiri.
By the way, i’m a Malawian currently based in South Africa. Ma comment a enanu I wonder if you’ve ever been to South Africa. Everything (as long as it does not favour Bushiri) you say Xenophobia, what the hell? The Hawks are simply doing their job and when they are done with him mumva zotsatira.
FYI, the Malawi Government that you are so dependent upon when it comes to freeing your Prophet is failing to run an embassy here; they owe the SA government a lot of money. I just hope the embassy here will not be close.
One more thing, If you are so hungry for God (like you would want us to believe), please read your Bible. The whole truth is in there, and it shall set you FREE.
The hawks are bunch of crooks. There is no merit on his case mark my words. Barry Leoux will punch holes on this case. The hawks are frustrated because they did not get the 10 million bribe they asked. At the same time they were pressurised by the useless MEC to have him arrested after the commission found him not guilty on stampede case. To prove this, the timing was wrong also. The day he was cleared by the commission, the same day he was arrested. On Friday for that matter. Tisalimbane ndi muthu wathu. Tiyeni tilimbane ndi amwenye akutibela ndalamawa.
You also your a stupid just continue to work as a Slave their when xenophobia starts that’s when you will know that South Africans are jealousy people Bushiri he didn’t commit any claim he’s case it just because he’s rich and he’s a foreigner in that country I thought you will
Tell us something else now I can see that your one of those stupid Malawians like this Khumbu nonse panyapano zitsilu za anthu
If tikabwera kumeneko sitigwira ntchito mwa meenye your very stupid fuck you and your mother fucker stop talking nonsense what is South Africa I my ass stupid