Bushiri, wife granted unconditional release: Malawi court rules arrest was illegal
Prophet Shepherd Bushiri leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church and his wife, Mary, have made a giant score in the long battle to seek justice in the face of a menacing South African government baying for their extradition.
The couple has been unconditionally released by Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate Viva Nyimba because their arrest was illegal, he ruled.
The Bushiris appeared before Lilongwe Magistrate Court on Thursday where the State wanted the couple to be remanded for 30 days for Malawi government and South Africa government to process the extradition.
Lawyer representing the Bushiris, Wapona Kita, challenged the State arguing there is no warrant of arrest from the court hence their detention is unlawful.
According to Kita, the two cannot continue to be in detention because the government of South Africa has not made a formal request to extradite Bushiri and his wife, Mary.
Kita asked the court to grant the two bail, saying they will comply with the court if request to extradite them by South African government.
He says the two cannot abscond bail or run away from the country because they chose to come to Malawi and not any other country.
In his ruling, Nyimba said underlined that the couple surrendered themselves to police as such they are not flight risk from their native country.
As things currently stand, it would seem that the Bushiris’ return to South Africa to face the music is largely dependent on the full cooperation of the Malawi government.
Malawi government spokesman Gospel Kazako has since said they will not interfere and hinder systems that were in place for the administration of justice.
He noted that the Malawian government was criticised by the South African media for allegedly employing delaying tactics and were seemingly unwilling to hand over the Bushiris to South African authorities.
Kazako said it was not about whether they were willing or not to handover the Bushiris but about the law.
The same South africans who run to other southern countries when the fire of apartheid run amock. The same South Africans who are busy killing white farmers. The same south african police which can not do anything about corrupt leaders like Guptas. But you want to chase the dust of Malawi. Its a sad day when foreigners indeed come to collect your own to go and punish possibly kill them while Malawians sit and cheer. A malawi mtima woyipa wa njiru. All of you are reading the story based on fakes news to smear a person. We all dont know… Read more »
This is a joke and biggest stupid mistake by viva, who must have taken bribe from this thug, a person who is fugitive and is known to have accumulated wealth by corrupt and fraud, how can one release such a conman and a fraudster. These was a reason court is RSA issued a warrant arrest and this stupid judge thinks he’s above the international criminal courts. Bushiri is a thug and con artist. Nothing more. He needs to be locked for long time in RSA and rot there.
SADC vs Citizen. Who votes during elections? Malawi must trade very carefully. What will Malawi lose even if they don’t become part of SADC? SADC has failed to solve Zimbabwe and Mozambique problems. Till now the wanted Mozambican finance Minister hasn’t bn handed over to Mozambique. SADC officials just attend meetings, drink coffee, receive allowances, thus all. When south door closes go to the north door. South Africa must not dictate you Malawians. Malawians have lost a lot of their properties in the hands of South African govt. There is nothing tangible that Malawi gvt would lose by breaking the… Read more »
Fully agreed with you on SADC hence I laughed when someone suggested that this matter needs to be taken to SADC. Where you and I differ is on the investments that you think he will bring. Will will firstly what has stopped him thus far from doing that? Secondly do you know that investors watch such things as rule of law the minute Malawi breaks that law set down by Interpol which Malawi is part of the 194 member states any investors that would have thought of sending investments your way would simply switch it. A perfect example for you… Read more »
Thieves helping thieves…Kodi anamanga lodge pa malo omubera mnzimai wosauka uja ku Nkhatabay uja paja ndi ndani? Do your examination of conscious mkatolika Iwe? Wagamula mikonda ndalama I we, uzigwese wekha mumpingo. Shame on you. Diabetes will NEVER leave you, akutero Ambuye.
ADumisani Chatima Mkazi uja amupatsa belo. Chitani naye kanthu ameneyo.
Instead of being persecuted for preaching Christ, Bushiri is being persecuted for money laundering….the first prophet to break such records…even in the bible
Just send the idiot back to South Africa please.
Many South Africans are not happy with Bushiri and his wife Mary. The main problem is not Malawi government but South African government. The ruling made by Nyimba was excellent and that the head of state of South Africa does not seriously talk to his people the truth about other tribes. Each country has its own laws of governing the country and this why our President is so quiet on this matter and he should continue doing the same. Many South Africans do not give any respect to other tribes in their Country and yet when their fathers and mothers… Read more »
You say Bushiri bribed now that on it’s own is an offence in any country on earth. You say SA has a high corruption problem and yes we have problem of corruption yet when it is done by Bushiri you want it brushed aside. It is either you keep to morals regardless of who commits a crime or not have any law at all. If you are serious about fighting crime you go hard at the head and the rest just crumbles. You even suggesting that our Judiciary should have discussed the case reported by Bushiri tells me you don’t… Read more »
Bravo judiciary for the rescue of innocent family.Even men of God can also become very rich so need of persecuting them because of their fortune.
And you expect international investors to take you serious when we get croocked judgements like these? Bushiri will coz more harm to Malawi’s image and its its not goodooooo
Bushiri Must Go Back to SouthAfrica#
Good point. Amongst other things that investors look at one of the is the rule of law if you apply them selectively well they’ll let you know by their actions through lack of FDIs.