By Draxon Maloya
MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-A long-standing case involving farmers from Mbawa and Viŵangalara Agriculture Extension Planning Areas, led by Thomas Msiska, has on Thursday, 20th August 2025 taken a new turn.
The third party, Blue Deebaj FZco of Dubai, has agreed to settle the matter out of court with the farmers, led by Thomas Msiska.
The agreement was reached in Principal Magistrate Clemence Chamwenda’s chambers during a meeting between the legal counsels for the Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) and Blue Deebaj FZco, represented by Fiskani Nkhoma and Pawene Nkhata, respectively, and the farmers’ lawyer, Christopher Kambalame.
According to Nkhata, the parties have agreed to adjourn the matter to facilitate out-of-court negotiations, with the court set to endorse and give the agreement legal force.
“The parties have agreed to adjourn the matter to give the parties out of court negotiations, however the court will have to endorse and give the agreement a legal force,” Nkhata said.
Kambalame expressed gratitude, stating that justice has finally prevailed.
“Since 2020, we have been in court for this matter, but now there’s light at the end of the tunnel. The said damages could not be quantified, but now that the plaintiffs are successful, then the court will have to set the matter for assessment to quantify the damage, and our clients will be compensated for the losses incurred in the matter,” Kambalame said.
The farmers are demanding compensation ranging from 15 to 50 million each. However, legal counsel for SFFRFM Fiskani Nkhoma earlier mentioned that a separate group of farmers had already been compensated outside of court.
The case has been ongoing since 2020, with the farmers claiming that the uncertified Blue Deebaj fertilizer supplied by SFFRFM and Blue Deebaj FZco damaged their tobacco crops, resulting in significant financial losses.
