Shepherd Bushiri Claims South Africa Doctored Evidence in Extradition Case
The Enlightened Christian Gathering Church founder, Shepherd Bushiri, and his wife, Mary Bushiri, appeared in court yesterday for their ongoing extradition hearing in Malawi.
The couple fled South Africa in 2020 after being granted bail on fraud and money laundering charges. Their case has become a point of contention, with both sides claiming contrasting narratives.
During the hearing in Lilongwe, Bushiri’s lawyers argued that South Africa presented “doctored evidence” to support the charges. In a Facebook post following the hearing, Bushiri claimed his lawyers exposed “more than 21 instances” of evidence manipulation. He also stated that South Africa’s sole witness “agreed with our lawyer today that they have tendered doctored evidence.”
The pastor portrayed himself as a victim of a biased South African justice system, claiming it’s “weaponized against the church, foreigners, and those who are doing well.” He also claimed that he fled South Africa to Malawi to prove his innocence. Bushiri further expressed confidence in Malawian courts, calling them “independent and trustworthy.”
While the court appearance is set to continue today, Bushiri has leveraged social media to garner public support. In an Instagram post, he urged his followers to “stand with our prophets.” He requests they share an image featuring the inscription “Major 1” across various platforms with the hashtag #IstandwithMajor1.