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Wandale treatment must continue—report

 

A doctor treating Vincent Wandale has recommended that he remains at Zomba Mental Hospital for an indefinite period because he would likely not comply with treatment if discharged.

The self-proclaimed leader of the so-called Peoples Land Organisation is undergoing treatment at the hospital following a court order that he be treated for mental illness before he could be deemed fit to stand trial in a case in which he is charged with publication of false statements likely to cause fear and alarm to the public.

To remain in hospital: Wandale

He has been claiming that he is the leader of a country called the United States of Mulanje and Thyolo and has mobilised some people in his quest to create the two districts as separate from Malawi.

A 30-day report submitted to the Malawi Police Service, which is prosecuting him, the Judiciary and the Ministry of Health dated December 27  2017 states that the treatment that Wandale has been put on needs to be taken long-term for their effects to be shown.

“Mr Wandale’s lack of insight reduces the risk of complying with medications as an outpatient on eventual discharge. He would benefit from depot antipsychotics that can be administered monthly without the need for oral medications,” the report reads.

The Ministry of Health has since confirmed receiving the 30-day report and submitting it to the court and prosecutors as required by the court.

“We are not entitled to disclose someone’s health report to the public, so I cannot comment further,” Ministry of Health spokesperson Joshua Malango said.

The report has also included an incident in which Wandale attempted to stab a nurse, who wanted to give him medication, with a broken piece of a surgical blade.

“He showed no remorse and felt justified to do so,” the report reads.

Wandale, who worked as chief land officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, was arrested in October after President Peter Mutharika declared that he would come down on him like ‘a tonne of bricks’ after it was reported that he had launched and named the cabinet of his ‘government.’

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