The Blantyre Magistrate’s Court on Thursday found People’s Land Organisation (PLO) leader Vincent Wandale guilty on three counts of conspiracy to commit a misdemeanour, unauthorised use of land and criminal trespass in which the court has convicted him but acquitted his accomplice, Tendai Nsikita, of the same charges.

Wandale: Convicted but told reporters outside the court he will appeal the case
Wandale was arrested on September 3 in Lilongwe in connection to an incident that happened on September 1 at Conforzi Tea Estate in Thyolo where hundreds of villagers invaded the estate and started sharing land for permanent settlement and cultivation.
Senior Resident Magistrate Thokozani Soko said she convicted Wandale on all three counts after she found that he aided, abetted and encouraged people to encroach Conforzi Tea Estate as shown in the official notice presented in the court regarding the planned encroachment which the people ‘mistakenly’ believe belongs to their forefathers.
She said Wandale failed to justify his bonafide ownership to the said land which could have seen the passing of the land from one generation to another.
Soko further said the fact that other accused persons pleaded guilty to the charges means that the land belonged to Conforzi. She also said Wandale failed to follow proper channels to resolve land issues in the district.
Southern Region Prosecuting Officer David Mtete, prayed to court to impose a stiffer sentence, “particularly an immediate custodial sentence, even though he is a first offender.”
The prosecutor said the court should take into consideration that “it was an organised crime,” and that the conduct of Wandale “could have led to the encroachment of all tea estates in the district, thereby affecting the economy of the country.”
However, his Wandale’s lawyer Michael Goba Chipeta asked the court to apply a humane face in passing the sentence.
“Land is a major issue in Thyolo and the government is not willing to address it. My client has found himself on the wrong side of the law because he wanted to address an issue that the government is not interested to solve. I, therefore, pray that the court should apply lenience and give him suspended sentence,” said Chipeta.
Magistrate Soko has since set Tuesday, November 8 for sentencing
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters outside the court Wandale remained defiant, saying he would appeal and fight on to enable the people of Thyolo and Mulanje reclaim their land from estate owners.
“I maintain my stand that we are a sovereign State and have freehold of all land belonging to United States of Thyolo and Mulanje [Must]. I do not care whether the court recognises it or not. We will also be taking this issue to the International Criminal Court [ICC],” said Wandale.
“The government of Malawi cannot force allegiance from the people of Mulanje and Thyolo. It has lost the trust of the people. We will claim back our land that was stolen from our ancestors by the whites,” said Wandale.
He said his client’s actions were not motivated by personal gain but rather to find a solution to the long standing issue of shortage of land in Thyolo and Mulanje.
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These whites just came with their briefcases from there countries but now they are owning almost half of our arable land. What pains me most is that government is backing these whites thereby subjecting Malawians (voters) to abject poverty. Koma inu dziko ili!
Our own Okonkwo…Things fall apart the centre cannot hold.
The issue is far from over. The people from Mulanje and Thyolo will rise up agaist the whites. This is t timebomb
Hahaha…koma this Wandale thing make me laugh lungs out!
So you think Wandale is a fool. Far from it. There those of us who believe that Wandale may have used wrong ways due to frustration but he stands for his kinsman. How different is Wandale to John Chilembwe yet you people celebrate him every year. Hypocrites you are indeed.
Wandale Viva, I love your courage, you reminds me of John Chilembwe.
zikanakhala kuti izi zikuchitika ku kasungu, mchinji, lilongwe, salima, dedza ntcheu, nkhotakota, ntchisi and Dowa with Chakwera as president mukanaona mmene MCP ikanyozera DPP kuti is the one fuelling all this. Have you how wise DPP is now? Has never accused MCP as fuelling this in its stronghold Thyolo and Mulanje but treats the case as it is. Why then MCP blames DPP on simple silly issue even of internal party differences? Failure to accept problems objectively is a sign of immaturity and thats MCP is
alomwe alomwe noophiya
If people can fight for their rights and not defended, then Wandale is one of the victims. For whateva cause this Wandale team could bring, this was viral and a pure encroachment to the owner of the land. You cant just wake up one day and claim a certain land belongs to you, they should’ve taken appropriate measures not just mob violation…