Prophet Shepherd Bushiri also known as "Major One" has warned people spreading reports claiming he is behind the ‘Jane Ansah Must Fall’ protests.
Malawians have been staging demonstrations in Lilongwe seeking the immediate resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Dr. Jane Ansah and other Commissioners following the disputed May 21 tripartite elections in which President Peter Mutharika was declared the winner.
The South Africa based televangelist has condemned the people behind the fake reports that are circulating on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
The prophet’s spokesman, Ephraim Nyondo, has been quoted by an online news publication, Nyasa Times, stating that Prophet Bushiri, as a respectable and ordained church leader “does not, directly or indirectly, get involved in the local politics”.
This is not the first time that Bushiri's name has been dragged into Malawian politics. Prior to the 2019 Presidential race, reports were all over social media claiming that the prophet was contemplating joining active politics as a presidential candidate.
While laughing off the reports, Bushiri is on record to have said that the presidency was a demotion for his calling. It has also been alleged that the Malawian born prophet funded some parliamentary aspirants in the 2019 Malawi polls. However, Bushiri has denied those allegations.
Nonetheless, there is a long list of his infamous followers who contested but failed to make it to Parliament. There is no proof, however, to suggest that he was their financier.
Malawians continue With Demos
Malawians, mostly from the opposition parties, have been staging public demonstrations calling on Dr. Jane Ansah to resign.
The protesters allege that Dr. Ansah aided the incumbent president, Mr. Peter Mutharika in rigging so as to win the presidential race. Despite calls for her resignation, Dr. Ansah has held her ground stating that she will not resign.
Both main opposition parties, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM, are in the Constitutional Court challenging the presidential results and demanding a rerun. The two parties have asked the Court to nullify the results.
Neither party recognizes Mutharika as a legitimate president, with MCP saying it can not form a government of national unity with Mutharika. MCP has asked Mutharika to resign and form a governing council to pave way for a rerun.
Meanwhile Bushiri, through his spokesperson, has warned people against dragging his name into local politics.
Header Image Credit: African Indy