Malawian govt ‘won’t intervene’ in Bushiri matter, says it’s law enforcement issue
The escape of the Bushiri couple from South Africa is likely to test the diplomatic relations between South Africa and Malawi.
This comes after Bushiri and wife Mary made a brazen escape from the country, just one week after being granted bail of R200 000 each by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.
The pair and their co-accused were arrested on fraud and money laundering charges linked to a R102 million investment scheme.
On Saturday, Bushiri released a statement from Malawi making several demands to the South African government to secure his return to the country for his trial.
He also called on the Malawian government to intervene.
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Bushiri, who is out on R200 000 bail in a fraud and money laundering case involving some R100 000, announced the weekend that he has crossed the border. Bushiri and his wife Mary have cited safety concerns as one of the reasons for breaking their bail conditions.
On Monday, State House Director of Communications Sean Kampondeni was at pains to explain that Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera would not intervene in the matter.
“The South African authorities have made it clear that they are going to seek extradition assistance from the Malawian government. That touches on law enforcement and the Malawi government is awaiting that kind of communication in order to work with their South African counterparts,” said Kampondeni.
“But all of those issues have to do with law enforcement and in this country, under President Chakwera, it has always been made categorically clear that law enforcement agencies work independent of the office of the president and so we have no answers for any questions that have to do with what law enforcement agencies in this country are going to do about the situation,” he added.
It remains unclear how the couple fled but there was some speculation of an elaborate scheme by the Malawian government to smuggle the Bushiri’s out after Chakwera met with President Cyril Ramaphosa last week on official business.
But both governments have denied these claims.
“The government of Malawi is aware and grateful that a public statement was recently issued by the South African government escapating President Chakwera from false allegations dominating the South African media that his presidential plane was used as a conduit for trafficking two Malawians wanted by South African authorities,” said Kampondeni.
“Notwithstanding the government of Malawi notes with concern that the statement falls short of acknowledging that the treatment that President Chakwera was subjected to upon his departure was improper and incongruous with the warn hospitality he received upon his arrival.”
The South African government has also vowed to initiate extradition processes to have the pair returned to the country to face the music.
