Wandale has case to answer, court rules: Malawi tea eastate land grab
Blantyre senior magistrate court has found self proclaimed leader of People’s Land Organisation (PLO) leader Vincent Wandale with a case to answer on land grabbing charges but acquitted his deputy.
Senior resident magistrate Thokozani Soko ruled that Wandale should defend himself in the case.
Lawyer for Wandale, Michael Goba Chipeta said the court has however slashed one count out of the four counts levelled against him.
“He will now answer counts of conspiracy to commit misdemeanor, unauthorised use of land and criminal trespassing,” he said.
Chipeta said this means Wandale will now call his witnesses if he wishes.
However the court acquitted the PLO deuty leader Chrispine Nkhoma.
Co accused Tendai Msikita said he would call for witnesses.
Hearing for the case started on September 5 after Wandale and 22 members of PLO were arrested in connection with an incident that happened on September 1 when hundreds of villagers invaded a portion of privately-owned Conforzi Tea Estate in Thyolo and started sharing land among themselves.
The other 20 members were given suspended sentences after they were convicted on their own plea of guilty.
Manondo, zoona zikudabwitsadi zinthuzi, iwowa Wandaleyo akuwawopsya chiyani? akuchita naye mantha – why? ma cashgate ali mbweee, dziko kumakanika kuyenda bwino chifukwa chosathana ndi cashgate, ndiye akamanga Wandale zinthu ziyenda bwino????? aaaa, problems. tawonanitu a Malawi momwe zinthu zikuchitikira, zili ndi ife.
Kodi inu nkhani ya Mr Wandale yangochitika kumene koma sikuithamangitsa kwake. Pali nkhani zina dating back to 2013, zina za cashgate koma mpaka pano kuli ziii. Kodi a Malawi what is our real interest. Zikundiseketsa. Anthu ena have been pa remand for years koma za mkulu uyu kuthamangisa koopsa. Kodi ku Judiciary uku nde kuti kuli wina akufuna kuchita score etii. mpaka kumukaniza bail and yet one cashgater is about to be pardoned. Is this not a mockery to Malawi as a nation? Ndangodusamo ine
Whether the court locks or frees Wandale, the government need to take this issue seriously. Arresting Wandale will not solve the problems of the people of Thyolo and Mulanje. There is a need of a political solution to solve this issue. However, the current leadership under APM has never demonstrated any stamina on solving national issues. Let us wait for people to realize and vote for Chakwera for the presidency.
Wandale represents Lhomwe peoples suffering and oppression. It is illegal for government to keep brother Wandale in jail.
MCP and Chakwera please intervene and liberate Lhomwe people. This is your opportunity to win Lhomew belt. Remember 1993, Chihana controlled the land.
MAKOLO WANU ANADYA KALE
NDALAMA POGULITSA MALOWO
KWA MAPHWITIKIZIWA
NANGA PANOPA MULULILANJI ???