Airport denies Bushiri entered Zambia

Fri, 19 May 2017 12:29:36 +0000

 By Violet tembo

 SOURCES at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International  Airport in Ndola have dispelled rumours circulating on the Copperbelt that  Malawian prophet Shepherd Bushiri of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) ministry entered the country through the airport.

And the Emeralds and Semi-Precious Stones of Zambia (ESMAZ) has disclosed that Bushiri owns an emerald mine in Lufwanyama, warning that if he is denied entry into the country the mining project will become a white elephant.

The sources, who sought anonymity, told the Daily Nation that officers from immigration and Zambia intelligence service are on alert for any attempted entry by the Malawian charismatic churchman who has been banned from visiting Zambia. “We have heard information circulating that Bushiri passed through our terminal but truth is there has not been any person with such names that has been screened.

‘‘You understand that screening for those entering the country is mandatory and we cannot forgo such a security routine.

‘‘If he had come through records would have clearly stated so, but records to date (Thursday 18,201) no person with such identity has been cleared and granted  entry permission into the country,” the source said.

And sources from the Immigration Department have also refuted the entry of Prophet Bushiri into the country.

The sources indicated that officers manning all entry points into the Copperbelt have not reported to head office of having cleared any person by that name.

Meanwhile, ESMAZ president Victor Kalesha has pleaded with Government to define grounds on which it is denying Bushiri entry into the country.

In a statement issued to the Daily Nation in Ndola Mr Kalesha stated that the prophet is an investor in the emerald sector.

“I am not a fan of prophets myself but I think the confusion going on now in regard to screening men of God entering Zambia needs to be taken with caution.

‘‘Government should act more maturely and handle the matter professionally and not on personal grounds.

‘‘Bushiri has a mining project in Lufwanyama emerald area, and if you deny him entry into Zambia, what happens to the mining project; it will become a white elephant,’’ Mr Kalesha said.

Mr Kalesha said Bushiri was expected to bring equipment to his mine uporeceiving clearance from the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) regarding environmental impact assessments.

‘‘As president for ESMA, I am appealing to Government to dialogue with the prophet because we need his investment in the emerald area,” Mr.Kalesha said.

Mr Kalesha also appealed to Religious Affairs minister Godfridah Sumaili to meet the prophet and explain the new Government stance towards foreign churchmen visiting the country.