Shepherd Bushiri collides with DPP
Self-acclaimed prophet, Shepherd Bushiri of the Enlightened Christian Gathering has said some unknown people associated with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have been advancing death threats towards him as a way of frustrating his food distribution programme that he has been carrying out for the past two months.
In an open letter published on his official Facebook page, addressed to President Peter Mutharika, Bushiri announced that he has since suspended the relief project because it continues to receive opposition from officials in the ruling party.
According to Bushiri, the party diehards claim the prophet’s gesture is a way of preparing his political stage for the 2019 presidential elections, an allegation he has denied.
“Ever since I started the project Your Excellency, things have not really gone down well with your government officials and the ruling party diehards… to be exact Your Excellency, they have all the reasons to believe that I am eyeing your seat come 2019 presidential elections” reads the letter in part.
When asked, yesterday, on how much was budgeted for the whole food project and for how many people Bushiri’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Kevin Sulugwe, said the budget was pegged at K1 billion, adding that they have spent just a quarter of the budget.
Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Allan Chiyembekeza yesterday said government is not aware of Bushiri’s food mission.
“Well I have seen him distribute maize on TV. Unfortunately, he has not engaged my ministry at any point. So as a ministry, we do not know he is doing that,” he said.
“But personally I think it is wrong for him to stop a noble cause just because of what people are saying. As a man of God, he would have been firm to prove the people wrong and continue serving the people but we all know that truth hurts,” Chiyembekeza added.
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