The Malawi police service has confirmed that they have arrested self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary on Wednesday.
The Malawian police launched a manhunt for the fugitive on Tuesday November 17, after Interpol issued an arrest warrant in Pretoria.
“The Malawi police service has arrested prophet Shepherd Huxley Bushiri and Mrs Mary Bushiri. This is in response to a warrant of arrest issued by Interpol Pretoria on November 16,” said senior superintendent James Kadadzera.
Bushiri’s spokesperson, Ephraim Nyondo however denied the couple’s arrest was sparked by the warrant. AFP reported he said Bushiri had vowed to present himself to the Malawi police to demonstrate “commitment that he is not a fugitive.”
Nyondo said;
“He is in Malawi to seek justice, which he believes he cannot be accorded in South Africa.”
Bushiri, who made his wealth through donations from followers of his Enlightened Christian Gathering church in Pretoria, claims that he fears for his life in South Africa.
The mogul has huge investments in the mining, telecommunications and luxury sectors.
The South African authorities, which are grappling to establish how he left the country, have initiated legal proceedings to secure his extradition.
