Chewa Heritage urges government to spare Bushiris from extradition

The Chewa Heritage Foundation is urging the Malawi government not to extradite Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary to South Africa to face some charges.

The cultural group argues that the Bushiris have made tremendous contributions to Malawian society adding that their extradition would be detrimental to the country’s social fabric.

According to the foundation, the Bushiris have been instrumental in among others, promoting spiritual growth, education and community development in their native country hence the need to reconsider the decision.

“The couple’s presence in Malawi has brought numerous benefits to the country and their extradition would undermine these efforts. They have been involved in various philanthropic initiatives like distributing free food items to hunger stricken households, paying school fees for the needy as well as taking care of orphans and the elderly,” says the foundation’s chairperson Gogo Sosola in a statement.

The Chewa Heritage Foundation is calling on the government to consider the potential consequences of extraditing the Bushiris including the impact on their followers and the broader community.

They urge the government through the ministry of justice to intervene on the matter in promoting the interests of Malawian citizens and to recognize the value that the Bushiris have brought to the country.

Since the Chief Resident Magistrate Court in Lilongwe ordered the two to be extradited three weeks ago, social media has been awash with views of supporters of the self-styled prophet and philanthropist arguing that it would be unfair for Malawi to send her citizen to a foreign nation to face charges.