How Bushiri escaped SA to Malawi with help of both governments
The details of the escape of self-proclaimed Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary are starting to surface.
An investigation conducted by IOL journalist Piet Rampedi revealed a plan hatched at the Malawian Embassy, approved by South African government officials and executed by Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera and his travel outrage.
The details indicate that the embattled couple were fetched by a Malawian Embassy vehicle from their Centurion home to Air Force Base Waterkloof where they were to board visiting President Chakwera’s private before leaving for Malawi.
The well-choreographed plot involved high ranking officials and intelligence operatives from both Malawi and South African government and was executed with knowledge of both Presidents.
At first Bushiri sent out her children to Malawi after he complained to Chakwera, whom he accused of forgetting him having assisted him in funding his Presidential bid, that he was not prepared to live in a South African jail.
Bushiri’s lawyers had advised him that he was going to serve a minimum of 15 years in a South African prison as the NPA had a strong case against him.
According to highly placed sources, who spoke to IOL, this is how the Bushiris have been smuggled:
- Bushiri contacted Chakwera who instructed the embassy to come up with a plan to smuggle Bushiri out.
- The Embassy considered three options, to smuggle him via Mozambique, lobby for al lesser sentence and to use the Presidential jet.
- Bushiri refused the idea of having him jailed on a lesser sentence.
- Chakwera, through the Embassy, contacted Ramaphosa government or assistance.
- The Malawi government knew Bushiri cannot be extradited unless if he committed murder or treason.
- Members of the judiciary lobbied to have Bushiri released on bail, not to attach his assets or freeze his bank accounts but only his Centurion house.
- The South African government approved the Malawi President state visit and to smuggle Bushiri via Air Force Base Waterkloof.
- Malawi intelligence operatives stated as the advance team went to SA to sort out the logistical issues.
- Bushirrri and his wife were fetched by a Malawian Embassy vehicle that took them to Air Force Base Waterkloof.
- SA police and military raised questions over three passengers, to of which did not look like Bushiri and his wife Mary but their height and eyes resembled that of the couple.
- News filtered that the two had not reported at the police station as part of their bail conditions, worsening their situation at Air Force Base Waterkloof.
- With the appearance of the passengers resembling those of the Bushiris, military police searched for any clues in the luggage but found none.
- Military police wanted to detain the three passengers but the Malawians sought intervention by the Department of International Relations and Co-operation Minister Naledi Pandor.
- Pandor sent officials to sort out the fracas and it was agreed the three would board the plane at OR Tambo, 25km from the airbase.
- Bushiri and Mary, with facial cosmetics, boarded the plane at OR Tambo, leaving three advance team members behind to work on securing his assets.
- The plane landed in Malawi after midnight, but the Malawian government ordered a media blackout and confiscated cameras of journalists who resisted and captured footage of the Bushiris.
- In SA, intelligence officers and some government officials lobbied or spun journalists and editors to blame the country’s porous borders and corruption for Bushiri’s escape and to dismiss the Chakwera involvement rumours.
How Bushiri escaped SA to Malawi with help of both governments