Bushiri Biography, Age, Court Cases, Net worth, Church
Shepherd Bushiri, is a Malawian preacher who founded a non-denominational evangelical church called Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG). Bushiri is also known as Major 1 or Prophet Shepherd Bushiri. His life is a life full of drama and scandal so let’s dive into these murky waters with this Bushiri biography.
Bushiri Biography, Profile, Wiki
Name: Shepherd Bushiri
Date of Birth: 20 February 1983
Place of Birth: Lilongwe, Malawi
Spouse: Mary
Children: Israella, Raphaela
Education: Moyale Secondary School, Therapon University
Occupation: Preacher, Motivational speaker, Businessman, Author
Net worth: USD$ 150 million.
Age, Education and Upbringing
Shepherd Bushiri was born on the 20th of February 1983 in Lilongwe, Malawi making him 37. He grew up in Mzuzu in the northern part of Malawi. He is the fourth child of six in what was a poor Christian family. It is alleged that Shepherd Bushiri is not his real name and that his parents raised him as Chipiliro Gama. Major 1 went to Moyale Secondary School then to Therapon University.
Major 1 Career
Shepherd Bushiri founded ECG in Pretoria, South Africa and it has become the world’s fastest-growing church. It now has branches in South Sudan, Ghana, Malawi and more. Uebert Angel is his mentor. 100 000 viewers and attendees watch his preaching every Sunday even via his own television station. Major 1’s NewYears Eve services attract 65 000 people at the FNB Stadium, South Africa. Bushiri’s influence is far and wide as he also meets a number of African politicians such as President Jacob Zuma of South Africa and Vice-President Dr James Igga of South Sudan.
Most of Shepherd Bushiri’s wealth comes from his personal business rather than the church as he has always kept himself and the church separate which is why Bushiri says that he does not earn from the church. Also whenever there are scandals Major1 always distances himself stating that the church and he are two different entities.
Bushiri owns SB Investments (Pty) Ltd which invests in real estate, mining, the hospitality industry as well as oil and transportation. This company is based in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Scandals
Where to begin? For one there are claims that Shepherd Bushiri is not even his real. Alleged leaked invoices show that Major 1 is in fact Chilipiro Gama His team has denied the claims.
Another wild one is that Bushiri claimed that Jesus working through him could cure miracles and had HIV tests done before and after praying over congregants. These miracles were are unproven. The government of Botswana then enforced that whenever Major 1 wanted to enter the country he should always apply for a visa. There are claims that his miracles are planned and rehearsed.
Cheating rumours have surrounded Bushiri before. These involve Zimbabwean singer Rachel J. Rachel’s partner at the time, former deputy finance minister Terence Mukupe accused Bushiri of impregnating her. Both Rachel and Shepherd provided evidence to counter the claims. Major 1 is also linked to a Malawian woman from his hometown who claims to have been impregnated by Bushiri in 2010. The lady was a teenager then and has tried to move forward with her life but it seems her daughter takes after Bushiri and her family ask Bushiri to do some paternity tests.
Money is a major theme in Bushiri’s life…get it? Major theme for Major 1? Anyways, first things first with the light stuff. A businessman based in Hong Kong claims that Bushiri did not pay for $450 000 worth of clothing to him. Darlington Manyawu, was told speak with Major’s spokesperson not ECG’s spokesperson even though the clothes were alleged to have been worn at church. In 2017 it is alleged that to sit at his table at one of his gala dinners a person had to pay R25 000. A whole salary
The biggest scandals have to be fraud charges that have been charged against Shepherd and Mary Bushiri of fraud which you can read about here and here, as there is so much going on. Congregants were scammed into investing in a fraudulent investment company with no returns. We know that the couple were first arrested in 2019 but were granted R100 000 bail and the case was postponed. Major 1 faces charges of fraud, corruption, and money laundering close to R102 million. The Bushiris spent the weekend in jail because bail was denied. Shepherd Bushiri also faces an allegation of fraud, registered towards one in every of his property corporations.
Major 1 Net worth, Cars and Houses
Shepherd Bushiri’s cars are:
- Rolls-Royce Ghost
- Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon
- Bentley Bentayga Limited Edition
- Aston Martins Volante
- Bentley Flying Spur
- Porsche Panamera
Bushiri gifted his daughter, Israella a Maserati Levante 2017 on one of her birthdays.
Major 1’s net worth is estimated at USD$150 million. He also owns multiple houses but we only seem to see the one he resides in South Africa. He also owns four private jets.
Philanthropy
Bushiri’s humanitarian organisation called “Shepherd Bushiri Foundation” does a lot of charity work. The foundation has done work in Malawi, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Botswana and South Africa. He provides for the needy and less privileged as well as charitable donations including livelihood support; educational support for orphans; humanitarian relief in the form of food subsidies.
In 2017, he took maize to Lilongwe and spent K85 Million in Malawi Charity. Major 1 also owns Major 1 Records which sponsors and showcases up-and-coming music artists. On Nelson Mandela Day in 2018, Bushiri launched an Africa-wide school adoption program with donations to a local school. Senior Government Officials from the South Africa Ministry of Education were present.
We will be following this story very closely so make sure to keep coming back. We will have updates and juicy details.
Bushiri Biography, Age, Court Cases, Net worth, Cars – SavannaNews