Wandale remains in custody as lawyer applies for bail, case adjourned

Peoples Land Organisation leader Vincent Wandale has been thrown back in jail after his lawyer applied for bail as the senior resident magistrate adjourned the case to Monday for ruling on the matter and continuation of the case.

Lawyer Michael Goba Chipeta told the court that material circumstances have completely changed therefore there was need to release Wandale and his co accused Vincent Nkhoma and Tendai Msikiti on bail.

“We had 24 accused persons at the start of the case but now we have three so the court can easily monitor the suspects,” he said.

He also said 80 percent of the state witnesses have taken up to the witness box therefore the chances that the suspects would tamper with the witness was remote.

But the prosecution said the court is speeding up the case therefore there is no need for Wandale to be on bail.

The prosecution also said Wandale eluded the police before September 1 when he was arrested therefore he cannot be trusted.

Senior Magistrate Thokozani Soko adjourned the case to Monday when she will give a ruling on the bail application.

The state said it has two more witnesses who will give their evidence on Monday.

Before the adjournment on Tuesday, chief Ngolongoliwa of Thyolo took up to the witness box against Wandale.

He said he received a phone call from the district commissioner who told a group of people were sharing land belonging to Comforzi Tea Estate.

Ngongoliwa said the duty of sharing land belongs to traditional leaders.

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