Lawyers representing Shepherd Bushiri, leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering, and his wife Mary, in their extradition case have requested the court to conclude proceedings by tomorrow due to the financial implications for the defendants.
Annelene Van Den Heever and Wapona Kita told the court on Friday in Lilongwe that the case has financial repercussions for their clients.
“I urge the court to conclude the hearing by next Tuesday, pending a ruling, as prolonging the case would have financial implications for our clients, Bushiri and Mary,” Van Den Heever said.
However, State prosecutor Dziko Malunda objected to the application, saying it was unrealistic to expect written and oral submissions within four days and, instead, requested 60 days.
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“We do not work during the weekend; we need ample time to ensure sufficient submissions if we are to do justice to the case,” Malunda said.
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In court, Van Den Heever argued that there was no case against the Bushiris, saying the State had failed to demonstrate why Bushiri and his wife should be extradited to South Africa to stand trial.
The defence cross-examined South Africa’s Director of Public Prosecutions Sibongile Mzinyathi by presenting a video of an address Bushiri gave soon after returning from South Africa in 2020.
In the video, Bushiri explained that he sought the Malawi Government’s intervention so that he could have a fair trial in South Africa regarding the charges against him.
In another video, Abraham Mashishi, leader of the South African National Civic Organisation, said during an interview with SABC that they wanted Bushiri out of South Africa.
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“We have demonstrated to the court that the case was driven by xenophobia and that the police cleared the prophet of any money-related charges,” Van Den Heever argued.
Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate Madalitso Chimwaza adjourned the matter until next week.
The Bushiris are wanted in South Africa on charges of theft and fraud, alleged to have been committed while they were leading the ECG Church in the Rainbow Nation.
They fled the country in 2020, citing attempts on their lives and South Africa’s failure to offer them protection.
