Prophet Shepherd Bushiri has spoken again — not from the pulpit, not from a courtroom, but from his digital empire of over four million Facebook followers. With one post, he can shape minds, build sympathy, or unleash hostility. And last week, he chose the latter. His target? Dr. Steven Kayuni — a seasoned public servant and former Director of Public Prosecutions.
But beneath the emotional story and the legal threats Bushiri published lies a troubling reality — a web of deception, self-pity, and manipulation spun by a man who has built a career out of spectacle.
A Prophet on the Run, Yet Loud at Home
Let’s begin with context. Bushiri, once South Africa’s golden preacher, fled that country under the shadow of serious criminal charges — fraud, money laundering, and corruption. He didn’t just flee; he violated bail, deceived a sovereign court, and landed in Malawi like a self-exiled saint.
Today, he remains confined — not by bars, but by borders. He cannot set foot in Zambia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, or Mozambique without risking arrest and extradition. His freedom is limited to Malawi, a sanctuary that has so far respected the rule of law while allowing due legal processes to unfold.
Yet, in this confinement, Bushiri discovered another pulpit — Facebook — where his words are gospel to millions. And now, that platform is being used as a weapon.
Turning Grief into a Political Tool
In his recent post, Bushiri accused Dr. Steven Kayuni of issuing an injunction that prevented his ailing daughter from traveling for medical treatment — an act he claims led to her death. It is a heart-wrenching story, but one that crumbles under scrutiny.
For one, no such injunction exists. The Director of Public Prosecutions has no authority to issue court injunctions — only a court can do that. Moreover, the notion that Dr. Kayuni acted on “orders from South African officials” is pure fiction. South Africa has no jurisdiction in Malawi, none whatsoever.
So, the logical question arises: Where is the evidence?
If Bushiri’s story holds water, let him show us the injunction — the case number, the judge’s name, the date. Without these, it is not testimony; it is theatre.
And Bushiri, sadly, has always been more of a performer than a prophet.
The Prophet of Illusions
This is the same man who once claimed to walk on air. The same man who boasted that he could “capture people’s images in the spirit” — as if he were a celestial CCTV. The same man who convinced thousands that cars without engines could move by divine command.
His gift is not prophecy; it is persuasion. He sells miracles to the desperate and illusions to the faithful. He manufactures spiritual drama and calls it divine revelation. And now, he’s using that same craft to twist facts into tragedy — turning public sympathy into political capital.
Why Kayuni Became His Target
Why now? Why attack Dr. Kayuni, years after his daughter’s tragic passing?
The answer may not be divine. Since the political winds shifted and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regained momentum, Bushiri has re-emerged — attending Peter Mutharika’s inauguration and aligning himself, however symbolically, with the new power bloc.
Is this sudden outrage about justice, or about relevance?
By vilifying Dr. Kayuni — who represents the face of lawful prosecution — Bushiri positions himself as a “victim of the state.” It’s an old trick: paint yourself as persecuted, discredit the law, and rally your followers.
But this time, it’s a reckless gamble — one that could cost him dearly.
Law Will Speak — Not Facebook
Dr. Steven Kayuni has remained silent. Perhaps because he knows the law does not argue on social media; it argues in court. And if Bushiri truly proceeds with his so-called “legal action,” he will meet a man who doesn’t preach — but prosecutes.
In that courtroom, Bushiri will have to name the judge, produce the injunction, and identify which South African officials allegedly directed it. Lies will have no altar there.
And when the legal dust settles, Dr. Kayuni will have every right to launch a solid defamation case against Bushiri. The damage to his professional reputation is immense — built on lies, misrepresentations, and deliberate manipulation. And when that time comes, the courtroom will be the stage where truth performs, not fiction.
From the look of things, Kayuni will laugh last. Bushiri’s track record — from dubious miracles to criminal indictments — paints a consistent picture: a man allergic to truth, addicted to attention, and unashamed of deception.
The Conmen and the Courts
It is ironic that Bushiri now finds unlikely company in Norman Chisale — another man under a cloud of corruption allegations — both claiming to be victims of Dr. Kayuni’s lawful duties. But the public must not be deceived.
When a DPP prosecutes corruption, fraud, and theft of public funds, he is not targeting individuals — he is defending citizens. And if that makes him a villain in the eyes of the corrupt, then perhaps Malawi needs more villains like him.
Final Word: The Gospel of Accountability
Prophet Bushiri’s grief for his daughter deserves sympathy. But exploiting that grief to tarnish another man’s name deserves condemnation. Truth cannot be built on lies, and justice cannot be demanded through deception.
Bushiri must understand this: faith may move mountains, but it cannot move the law.
So let the courts, not Facebook, decide.
