Malawi Police deny arresting Wandale over land repossession in tea estates

Malawi Police have denied widely-publicised reports that they had arrested  Peoples Land Organization (PLO) leader Vincent Wandale following last Thursday’s land grabs on private-owned Conforzi Estate in Thyolo district.

Wandale: Claims that he was arrested dismissed by Police
Wandale: Claims that he was arrested dismissed by Police

Almost all the national newspaper published the reported arrest of  self-acclaimed leader of the people of Thyolo and Mulanje,  Wandale.

Wandale even wrote on his Facebook page that he had been arrested in Lilongwe

“I’m in police custody in Lilongwe. As Head of  State Im under immunity by Vienna Convention. As an act happening after issuing a declaration of war, I am a prisoner of war,” posted Wandale on his Facebook Timeline.

He  was referring to rambling declaration he issued on Friday,  saying: “Traditionalist Government of the United States of Thyolo and Mulanje was declaring a state of war against foreign aggression from Republic of Malawi.”

Wandale 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.

But Deputy Police National Spokesperson  Thomeck Nyaude disputed claims of Wandale’s arrest.

“Its not true about that. In fact there is no such an entry in our police registers country wide,” he said.

Malawi Government, in a press statement issued through Ministry of Information, Communications Technology and Civic Education, warns that what the villagers did was encroachment, which is illegal.

The statement, signed by Information Minister Patricia Kaliati, says 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.

Wandale, who works for Lilongwe Agricultural Development Division (Ladd) as acting chief agricultural extension officer responsible for Lilongwe, Dedza and Ntcheu districts, has been agitating for the local peoples occupation of all idle tea estates land in Thyolo and Mulanje districts since its establishment in 2009.

His  organization has been demanding that estates owners pay £65 (about K53 000) per acre per year for all used colonial estate land from 1914 to date.

PLO has also been requesting from the estates owners a wage rate of £6.13 per hour (about K5 000) per individual for those who were involved in Thangata (bonded labour) between 1914 and 1963.

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Kwemkhe
Kwemkhe
7 years ago

Koma Guyz President ali manthongo thooooo kkkkkkkk

Mswachi
Mswachi
7 years ago

And the head of State of the Traditionalist Government of the United States of Thyolo and Mulanje is an employee of the Malawi Government. I smell Treason here. At least apa zingamveke.

Tichezepo
Tichezepo
7 years ago

Koma anthu amene simukumudziwa bwino Wandale khalani phee…the man is driven and very sharp. This ‘war’ on land he is waging will not end in futility…mark my words. go wandale go! first speaker of BSU!

Stout
Stout
7 years ago

I am sure that such actions and statements are a recognised medical or psychological condition. For the well being of all concerned the government may consider committing him to the mental hospital for treatment.

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