‘Poverty is a spirit, a mindset, a lifestyle’: Prophet Bushiri tells Malawians to change their thinking to escape hardship
Renowned prophet and entrepreneur Shepherd Bushiri has urged Malawians to tackle poverty head-on by fundamentally rewiring their mindset and embracing practical strategies for building wealth.
Speaking at the Sycamore Consult Wealth Creation Conference in Blantyre, Bushiri told attendees that poverty is far more complex than simply a lack of money, describing it instead as something that can manifest as a spirit, a lifestyle, an attitude, a mindset, or indeed a combination of all four.
The prophet, who has built a business and ministry empire spanning multiple countries, argued that properly tackling the issue requires accurate diagnosis of its root causes, followed by practical, disciplined action to address it.
He urged Malawians to pursue entrepreneurship, sharpen their financial literacy, and adopt disciplined investment habits as the surest route to genuine economic independence, rather than relying solely on employment or government support to escape hardship.
Sycamore Consult Managing Director Audrey Mwala said the conference had been designed specifically to equip ordinary Malawians with practical knowledge and tangible skills to create wealth and meaningfully improve their livelihoods, rather than offering abstract theory disconnected from everyday realities.
The event forms part of a broader push by private sector figures to promote financial literacy and entrepreneurship in Malawi, at a time when the country continues to grapple with a severe cost-of-living crisis, chronic foreign exchange shortages and rising public debt – challenges that have left many ordinary households struggling to make ends meet.
Bushiri, who rose to international prominence through his Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church and has faced scrutiny in the past over his business dealings in South Africa, has increasingly positioned himself as a voice on economic empowerment and wealth creation across the region, alongside his religious ministry.
His appearance at the Blantyre conference is likely to draw significant public interest, given his high profile and the polarising reputation he has cultivated among both devoted followers and vocal critics across southern Africa.
