A woman who is accusing Malawi Prophet Shepherd Bushiri of raping her has said she fears for her life because the pastor is a dangerous man.
The woman has spoken out following a High Court ruling directing Lilongwe senior magistrate court, Patrick Chirwa, to decide on whether women who accuse Bushiri of rape should come to Malawi to testify or can testify using other means such as online.
The woman’s mother, in an interview with broadcaster eNCA, said her daughter will not travel to Malawi even if Chirwa decides that the witnesses should testify physically in Malawi.
“This issue happened here in South Africa, so how can we just follow Bushiri wherever he is while he has to be here and face his charges,” said the mother.
“We are not protected … because Bushiri is a dangerous man. I don’t want to lie. He is very dangerous” she said.
She also revealed frustrations over the delay of the case saying she and her husband are “tired” and “are thinking of withdrawing the case”.
Prophet Bushiri and wife Mary were arrested in South Africa in October, 2020 over fraud, money laundering and corruption charges. They maintain their innocence.
The couple escaped South Africa soon after being granted bail on 4 November. In Malawi, they were arrested but a court freed them saying their arrest was illegal because there had been no formal request from South Africa.
South Africa later sent the formal request for the extradition of the Bushiris to stand trial on charges of theft, fraud, forgery and failing to comply with bail conditions.
In the extradition case, magistrate Chirwa ruled that women who accuse Bushiri of rape should come to Malawi to testify but the State appealed to the High Court which directed Chirwa to be open in listening to alternatives of hearing witnesses which may include virtual hearing.
Why do the alleged rape victims need to come to testify? He can simply be extradited on the fraud and money laundering charges thus sparing the alleged victims of rape the trauma and fear of having to travel to Malawi.
I can sympathise with their fears as it must be very intimidating for them to have to travel to a foreign country where they know Bushiri holds a certain influence. It is not only the blind fundamendalist devotion of his followers that poses a potential threat but also those within the forces of law and order who might have been paid off by Bushiri to ensure that the protection of those witnesses while they are in Malawi is compromised.
Bushiri’s followers are not the most rational thinking of individuals and we have already witnessed how his money can buy certain favours with those in authority. His SA residency status for one. His numerous diplomatic passports. The ease with which he fled SA. None of those things would have been achievable without paying off corrupt individuals.
Also the Bushiris are already giving their followers subliminal messages in their sermons, Facebook and Instagram posts about how the people that are trying to harm them need to be destroyed. Of course no direct reference is made to their legal situation but the implication of their various messages is quite apparent. It will only take one lone frenzied nutter to take those messages literally.
Bushiri’s followers are not capable of reasoned, rational thinking or critical thinking. Add this to their blind devotion and obedience to Bushiri and it certainly does create a very hostile and dangerous situation for those witnesses to travel to Malawi
150 percent agree