Groups fight over Mulanje and Thyolo independence claims

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Members of Malawi’s People’s Land Organisation (PLO) and Citizen for Protection of Mulanje Mountain (CPM) based in Mulanje and Thyolo have denied reports that the two districts will become independent if government fails to resolve land disputes in the district.

The development comes after the chairperson of PLO, Mr. Vincent Wandale, told reporters last week that the two organisations, PLO and CPM, have given government 17 days ultimatum to resolve the land disagreement failing which the two districts will form an independent state.

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Row of land in Mulanje and Thyolo.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, public relations officer for CPM, Bon Kalindo said Wandale’s claims that the two districts will become independent were his personal opinion and not the views of the organisations.

Kalindo wondered why Wandale delivered that speech when the groups on October 15 met the President Peter Mutharika and discussed the way forward on the matter.

“We met here in Thyolo to clear what Mr Wandale has said. He has said Thyolo and Mulanje mountain are to become independent and be called United states of Thyolo and Mulanje if the government and the president fails to resolve the dispute, that is not true.

“He should not pretend to have said this on behalf of people in these two location, I think he has said this on a personal basis,” said Kalindo. He added that if anything will happen within the said 17 days, Wandale will be responsible for that and not PLO or CPM.

However, Wandale called the accusations senseless saying what he said is what PLO and its members agreed on 26 November at a meeting. He said he is there to fight for people’s land and says no one can threaten him.