By Chisomo Phiri
South African legal team led by officials from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development(DJCD) is in the country to participate in the extradition case of Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary which is scheduled for May 30, 2023.
The officials include senior and experienced prosecutors from the National Prosecuting Authority(NPA), the Investigative Directorate (ID)and investigators from South African Police Service.
According to a statement issued by South Africa’s Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services, which 247 Malawi has in possession, the Department of Justice is leading the group in fulfilling its role as a central authority which has the responsibility of receiving, managing and executing extradition requests.
The statement which has been signed by the Ministry’s spokesperson Chrispin Phiri reads in part:”On February 13, 2023, the Malawi High Court in its judgment indicated that section 6 of the Extradition Act of Malawi clarified that the witnesses or relevant witnesses to a preliminary inquiry/extradition hearing are those witnesses who will be able to answer and convince the Court conducting the inquiry on section 6 of the Malawi Extradition Act.”
The Bushiris are answering criminal charges in South Africa where they fled in November 2020 while on bail, and South African authorities are seeking their extradition to face trial.
