LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The High Court in Lilongwe has dismissed a magistrate’s order to extradite Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary to South Africa.

In a summary ruling, Justice Mzonde Mvula found that the extradition proceedings were flawed, unfair and failed to guarantee the Bushiris’ right to life and safety.

The court also ruled that the chief resident magistrate, who had ordered the Bushiris’ committal in March, denied them their right to be heard, a breach of the constitutional principle of audi alteram partem.

Justice Mvula observes that the magistrate delivered a ruling after hearing only the case of the respondent, effectively condemning the applicants as if they had no voice to the allegations against them.

Reads the ruling dated October 31, 2025 in part:

“The authentication of South African documents was also deemed improper, with the judge who authenticated them confirming she had only seen scanned copies, not originals.”

The court found an over-reliance on hearsay evidence from the South African witness, which it described as “clutching at straws.” It also noted that Mary Bushiri was committed on a charge of “immigration-related forgery” that was never formally part of the extradition request — a move the court said the magistrate had no authority to make.

The court further found that the magistrate omitted to make an important finding preserving the lives of the applicants and failed to address their valid concern that they suffer racial and xenophobic bias, public hostility and media persecution.

The request was also described as potentially being tainted by bad faith, political motivation and oppressive delay.

The Bushiris are facing charges of fraud, theft and money laundering linked to their Enlightened Christian Gathering church, allegations they have denied since their dramatic return from South Africa in 2020.

Source: Nationoline

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