Court refuses bail to Wandale, charged with criminal trespass: Fighting for Malawi tea estate land redistribution

A court in Blantyre has refused to grant bal to self-acclaimed leader of the people of Thyolo and Mulanje, Vincent Wandale who last Thursday  mobilised hundreds of villagers who invaded a privately-owned Conforzi Tea Estate with an aim of distributing part of the estate land they claim has laid idle for many years.

Wandale: Denied bail
Wandale: Denied bail

Wandale appeared before the court on Tuesday after his arrest to be formally charged.

He was arrested on September 2 2016 while 21 of his followers were arrested on September 1.

The State has pressed four charges of conspiracy to commit misdemeanour, unauthorised use of land, inciting violence and criminal trespass.

Police spokesperson for Blantyre James Kadzera confirmed that Wandale appeared before the court in Blantyre and that Principal Resident Magistrate Innocent Nebi told the jam parked court that he will not be handling the case but rather Magistrate Thokozani Soko will handle the case and all other applications.

“The court has remanded him further until the start of the case next month,” said Kadadzera.

He said Police brought Wandale and his followers to court to be made aware of the charges in compliance with the 48 hour rule of  section 42 (2b) of the republican constitution.

They have since been remanded at Chichiri Prison.

Wandale claims the land in tea estates  belonged to the ancestors of people of Thyolo and the colonialists forcebly took the land for growing tea.

He  issued a statement on Friday before his arrest, saying: “Traditionalist Government of the United States of Thyolo and Mulanje was declaring a state of war against foreign aggression from Republic of Malawi.”

The civil servant accuses Malawi of violating The Hague Peace Convention (III) of 1907, which he says provides that hostilities between nations must not begin without previous and explicit warning.

Wandale  said the declaration of war was necessitated by the unprovoked aggressive action unleashed by the Malawi Government armed police on the peaceful citizens of the African Traditionalist republic who were receiving uncultivated colonial estate land in Thyolo as per notice issued on July 28 2016.

But Ministry of Information, Communications Technology said Wandale is acting “out of his mind.”

The ministry  in a statement said  what the villagers did was encroachment, which is illegal.

The statement said Conforzi was a privately-owned tea plantation, an agricultural business; and as such, it has to conform to a number of international standards that include ensuring that sufficient land is left to conserve natural habitat.

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Mbava
7 years ago

Alomwe munthu koma ameneyu

Shupi
Shupi
7 years ago
Reply to  Mbava

Wandale woyee!!

Mbava
7 years ago

Wandale is now the King of Alomwe basopu alanda chipani and to be the leader of opposition in 2019

be humane
be humane
7 years ago

for those of you who know Thyolo and Mulanje you will agree with me that these were tenant settlers in these estates and the estate owners could only leave the unproductive lands for settlements and these lands were small. With increase in population there demand for land is growing. Estate lands are under leasehold which were mostly 99 years as such it would be a crime to encroach on such land or else with government compensation they can take up some land. So popeza Wandale is the president of that country as head of state, the other way is to… Read more »

angoni
angoni
7 years ago

When was he arrested? The last time I checked police spokesperson from somewhere in Lilongwe said this man was not arrested. Ndiye anthu akaika post kuti apolisi ndi agalu kumakwiya?

The Analyst
The Analyst
7 years ago

O………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..O . . . In the days of old, . . . when primary and secondary school students, we still were; . . . a long list of negative effects of overpopulation used to take up 50% of our exercise books. . . . and scarcity of land for settlement and cultivation was dominant. But little did we know that someday, we would see this with our very own eyes! ………………………………………………………………………. . . . You see . . . What this misguided Wandale (and friends in crime) are doing, is just a tip of an iceberg. But remember, little did… Read more »

Kokani
Kokani
7 years ago

Koma Humane tapanganiko comment zinthu zoveka nanga Thyolo ndi Mulanje alikuti niyesa aliMmalawi momuno ndiye akhala Head of state bwanji. I think a Kulu inu ndinu a dpp koma nzeru mulube ndibwino musiye kupanga comment zachamba zakozo. This is serious and treasonous in nature.

sabata
sabata
7 years ago

The face qualifies him to be a rebel leader. Wandale ndi ameneyu

Akanakhale Mtumbuka
Akanakhale Mtumbuka
7 years ago

Akanakhala mtumbuka akanangomupha. Peter has not even delivered his first promise he made. I remember very well Bwana Peter said When he wins presidency, the first thing he wanna fly to Nsanje and open the Nsanje Port. Nothing has been done so far. Pano iziti he has delivered on his promises.

be humane
be humane
7 years ago

The analyst I respect your reason so much and admire it. But here understand it, Wandale has declared himself president of African …………… not president of Malawi. If he had declared himself president of Republic of Malawi that would have been another issue. Treason is attempting to overthrow a legitimate government like what Kabwila and freinds wanted to do. Read thoroughly what is treason you find that Wandale’s case falls short of being treason. Stop making tribalist remarks. If there was any tribalism here he would not have been arrested. Inu anthu a kumpoto mumathamangira tribalism muli kummwera kapena kapena… Read more »

Happy Mhango
Happy Mhango
7 years ago
Reply to  be humane

Last time I checked Mulanje and Thyolo were part of Malawi and declaring capturing part of a legally recognised sovereign country smacks of serious offense. Assuming I woke up one day and declared Rumphi and Karonga not part of Malawi and declare myself the head of state for the area. Will I see the next day?

Three Angels message
Three Angels message
7 years ago

Where does Malawi get powers to arrest president of another country??????????

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