Paul Nyathi

President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted his Malawian counterpart Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera on Friday for a working visit.

Same day, self proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri fled from the country for Malawi undetected.

The church leader was out on bail of R200,000 and is facing fraud, theft and money laundering charges in connection with an investment scheme worth R102 million.

During the period, Chakwera’s homeward flight was delayed by several hours with no valid explanation.

Speculation immediately came out that the Malawian President helped the now fugitive pastor escape the country.

While the Hawks are still trying to authenticate and verify the reports that Bushiri and his wife skipped the country, Malawi’s authorities have quickly dismissed the speculation that they offered the couple a ride on President Lazarus Chakwera’s plane.

Speaking to eNCA, Malawi Information Minister, Gospel Kazako, said there’s no way the president would allow that.

The Malawi leader used a chartered flight to fly directly into Waterkloof Airforce Base, which is a national key-point reserved for South African Military and heads of state. Waterkloof airport does not conduct the same procedures and searches that are done at the normal airport, especially for the Presidents and their emissaries.

President Chakwera speaking through his spokesperson and Press Secretary Brian Banda said that is not true that he assisted Prophet Bushiri to jump bail in South Africa.

Said Banda: “The allegation that Prophet Shepherd Bushiri came on the same flight with the president is false.”