Forum for National Development (FND) has asked authorities at the Capital Hill in Lilongwe to swiftly act on alleged and suspected abduction of South Africa-based Malawian spiritual minister, Pastor Hastings Salanje.
On Sunday afternoon, individuals claiming to be South African Police Service (SAPS) reportedly abducted Salanje at his church, God’s Chapel International in Randburg in South Africa, soon after conducting a church service on Sunday.
Reacting to the news, FND said it was deeply concerned and shocked with the news, urging the Malawi Government to act swiftly on the matter.
The forum’s chairperson Bright Kampaundi and his national coordinator, Fryson Chodzi, issued a statement on Monday demanded the intervention of the Malawi Government both here at home and the Malawi High Commission in South Africa.
“Pastor Salanje holds a significant position of influence and prominence in Malawi, therefore, any harm inflicted upon him directly affects the psyche of the entire nation, leading to heightened concern and anxiety. We as human rights defenders strongly believe that an injury to one Malawian is an injury to all and therefore demand unequivocal return of Salanje from his abductors wherever he is being kept, back to his family. The attack on Salanje comes at a time we are still coming to terms with the persecution that Prophet Shepherd Bishiri faced in South Africa,” reads the statement in part.
Kampaundi and Chodzi added that it is in the same vein that human rights groups, including FND, have been demanding justice for Prophet Shepherd Bushiri who was facing persecution, extortion, and assassination attempts at the hands of South African government officials.
They said the abduction of Salanje is reminiscent of their strongly held opinion that Malawians are not safe in South Africa especially when you are seemingly well to do.
“We see similarities to what Salanje is going through to the fate that Bushiri would have had if he had not decided to run away from South Africa and seek help in his own country, Malawi. We hope this abduction of Salanje will wake Malawians up including those in authority to understand the grave dangers that awaits Malawians in South Africa. It is crucial that the people of Malawi, as well as Pastor Salanje’s family, receive reassurance about his condition and ongoing efforts to secure his release. Given the gravity of this matter, the government has a duty of care for its citizens and must intervene in the matter of Salanje,” they said.
“Lilongwe must work with their Pretoria counterparts to ensure the safe return of Pastor Hastings Salanje. Likewise, as the Malawi government is taking Prophet Bushiri to court on extradition matters, they must understand the lurking danger facing Malawians in South Africa. As citizens, it is our duty to take responsibility to demand safe return of Salanje and assurance of protection of Malawians citizens residing in South Africa. We will be petitioning the South African High Commission to Malawi as well as the Malawi Foreign Affairs for safe return of Pastor Salanje,” concluded Kampaundi and Chodzi.
There was no immediate comment from the Government of Malawi.
