Wandale rejects medication at Zomba mental hospital

Vincent Wandale, self-proclaimed leader of the United States of Thyolo and Mulanje (MUST) and Peoples Land Organisation (PLO), is rejecting to take any medication at Zomba Mental Hospital, saying he is afraid he could be eliminated.

Wandale said he is refusing to take the medication unless it is administered by his chosen physician.

“I am refusing the treatment because I want a private medical practitioner to confirm that I am indeed insane,” said Wandale.

Wandale is admitted at Zomba Mental Hospital after medical doctors reportedly certified that he is suffering from a mental disorder and recommended that he should undergo mental rehabilitation.

“I cannot trust medical officiers hired by the government, which I am not in good terms with, to treat me.I am suspicious of their conduct,” said Wandale.

He claimed that the doctors want to give him treatment by force.

“I am really worried with this development,” he said.

Wandale insisted that the whole issue is “a plot by the state to eliminate him”.

“I’m not mad. It’s a plot to kill me,” he stressed.

His lawyer Oscar Taulo said the High Court in Lilongwe has directed the State to uphold any action against  Wandale until an inter-parte hearing on the matter is heard.

The grounds, terms and conditions of seeking declaration orders and stay included that the decision of the learned magistrate was unlawful and ultra vires and is inconsistent with Section 133 of the criminal procedures and evidence code.

It further indicated that the court fettered its discretion when it heavily relied on medical report that emanated from government funded hospital and disregarded the application’s plea to have his mental status assessed by private independent medical institution.

“The decision of the court to order the applicant to be admitted to Zomba Mental Hospital is unlawful and unconstitutional as it is contrary to the applicant’s right to choose medical practitioners for health treatment,” it reads.

According to Taulo, following the directive, the state was not supposed to maintain the order granted on November 16 by the Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate Court that Wandale be admitted to Zomba Mental Hospital.

“Following the directive both parties were not supposed to act unless the matter is resolved because implementing the order means that proceedings before the court are nugatory thereby rendering the application useless,” he said adding that as of now they are just waiting for feedback from the state and direction from the court regarding the matter.

Wandale who was arrested in October after his failed inauguration as leader of the African Traditionalist Republic of the United States of Mulanje and Thyolo (Must), was taken to Zomba Mental Hospital on Monday November 20 2017.