In the latest developments, the State in Prophet Shepherd Bushiri extradition case has applied to the High Court to review the 29th March ruling by Senior Magistrate Patrick Chirwa to have South Africa witnesses appear in Malawi court to be cross-examined.

Bushiri’s Legal counsel Wapona Kita, has confirmed the development.

Kita who declined to comment further on the matter says he has been served with the order from the High Court calling for the file from the magistrate court for review of the order on physical attendance of witnesses in Malawi.

This comes at a time the State through the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Steve Kayuni told the court that South Africa was ready with the trial and the witnesses will be paraded in Malawi, a ruling that the State had earlier complied with.

However, despite the assertion, the public was thrown into great shock when Kayuni, while admitting South Africa’s readiness with the case in court, asked the court to allow witnesses to testify through video conference not physically available in Malawi courts.

Magistrate Chirwa dismissed Kayuni’s application, saying it lacked legal basis and, further, gave the State six weeks to bring South Africa witnesses to Malawi to be cross-examined.

Meanwhile, speaking following the development, Bushiri’s spokesperson Ephraim Nyondo expressed shock while reflecting on the period the case for the next court appearance.

“We are shocked that, just two weeks to set the date of July 12 for the trial, the State has applied to ask the High Court to review an old court decision which they had no issue with at first,” said Nyondo.

While in South Africa, Bushiri appeared before the courts for more than three occasions to be given trial, with each appearance being postponed because the State was not ready with the witnesses.