By Pemphero Malimba:
Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate Madalitso Chimwaza has adjourned the extradition case in which the South African government wants Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and wife Mary to answer money laundering, theft and rape charges in the Rainbow Nation.
Chimwaza has given the defence up to August 19 2024 to make its written submissions while the State has been given up to September 13 2024 to respond.
The defence will also be required to make its submissions by September 19 2024 if it sees the need to respond to the State’s submissions.
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After 60 days, from September 19 2024, she is expected to make a ruling on whether the Bushiris have to be extradited to South Africa.
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She said she would notify the two parties on the day she would deliver the ruling.
During court proceedings on Wednesday, the State re-examined State witness Sibongire Mzinyathi, who is the Director of Public Prosecutions in Gauteng Province, South Africa.
On a number of occasions, the defence objected to the evidence brought by the State, arguing that the State was bringing in fresh evidence.
In an interview after the court session, State lawyer Dzikondianthu Malunda said he was happy with progress made in the case.
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“We are happy that progress has been made and that there is proper direction as to when the final ruling is going to be rendered,” Malunda said.
Lawyer for the Bushiris, Annelene Van Den Heever, said they were also satisfied with progress made.
“These are the timelines we suggested. As such, it gives us an opportunity to make our written submissions,” Heever said.
The Bushiris returned to Malawi from South Africa in 2020, when they cited threats on their lives.
