Kanyongolo advises Mutharika on lake dispute

Sep 19, 2016 Politics 225
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Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi
Border dispute on this water body rages on.

As the fight over Lake Malawi between Lilongwe and Dar es Salaam rages on, one of the country’s law experts Edge Kanyongolo has advised Malawian authorities to stay put and not to be moved by the new map being promoted by Tanzania, which shows the north-east part of the lake as belonging to her territory.

Kanyongolo’s remarks come at a time when President Peter Mutharika is scheduled to meet his Tanzanian counterpart, John Magufuli, at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) currently underway in New York where among other things they are expected to discuss the border dispute.

Speaking in a telephone interview the Zomba based Chancellor College Law Lecture, said the new map is illegal and Malawi should not be bothered by it.

Said Kanyongolo: “With regard to the map, I think the (new) map can be ignored, because just a map has no legal significance. You cannot change the boundaries of a country or indeed of a garden in your house by simply saying I have a new map.”

The law expert further said, as a country, Malawi should not be stressed up with an issue that has no legal consequence.

Professor Edge Kanyongolo
Professor Edge Kanyongolo; Drills Mutharika.

“Malawi should disregard what Tanzania is saying because it has no legal consequence, meaning that it has no impact at all. Drawing of a map has nothing and I think as a country we are getting a little too paranoid about it. If somebody draws a map which has no legal significance you basically just ignore it,” Kanyongolo said.

Tanzania has of late taken interest in the lake after oil was discovered near its shores.

Soon after the new map was released, the government of Malawi issued an alert to all government ministries, departments and agencies to reject it (new map) and be on the lookout.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Francis Kasaila recently told the local media that Malawi had asked Tanzanian authorities to facilitate the meeting of President Peter Mutharika and President John Magufuli at the UNGA to discuss the issue that has disrupted the good relationship between the two nations.

However, Kanyongolo said he sees no need for the two heads of states to meet over this saying it is a straightforward legal issue.

“This is a legal issue and I think if ultimately it is going to be resolved that is the route through which it will be resolved not through the drawing of map or not even through presidents having a chat in the corridors of the United Nations,” he said.

Kanyongolo therefore advised the president and the citizenry to reject the new map and move forward.

The lake dispute dates back to the colonial era where it was ruled that the whole lake belongs to Malawi.

It only resurfaced in 2011 after revelations that the lake has crude oil under it.

In 2012, former presidents from the Southern African region led by former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano were tasked to mediate over the issue after the two disputing sides failed to reach an agreement.

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225 Comments

  1. Eeeee akhala akupha anthu kudzala nyama forest cos chifukwa cha nkhuni lero mukulephera kulimbana ndi ma Arabs I hate these guyz amene amaziona ngati ndiotsogola ndi lamulo nonsense ine ndimayamika G4 ndi imene imateteza

  2. Kukhala ndichimunda chachikulu sikudziwa kukolola koma kudziwa kasamalidwe kambewu or Tanzania itakhala ndizida zotani sikuti ingawine cos iri ndi zida zochuruka, asirikali athu ali busy kumaturutsa ma album anyimbo, kumenya nzika zawo ku mpira ndikumowa nyota mbwee akatero agwira ntchito lero ndi izi akukanika kulimbana ndi ma swahill

  4. Bola akanati akukanganilana #Chimanga_kapena_Magets bwezi mtalowelera koma nyanja? Ndimulekere nzanga msozi zimenezo olo ndimafira chambo, kikikikikikiki!

  5. tanzania is makin awareness campaign kut anthu awo aziziwa kut part of lake malawi is their while we Malawian,we r doin notyn zomwe ndikumva ndisavomeleze ndi pakamwa pomwe azanthu akupanga action,kod zanthu zikhale zongokambilana pa fb?Nyanja ikupita

  6. we are vry close to the boarder if anything will happen then we will be the first GUYS to suffer most. Kodi zamafutazo anaziyamba ndani? and one thing the gvt of tz is suppose to know is that why the lake is called lake malawi or lake nyasa but not lake tanzania? kususuka basi ife zokangana NJE!!!

  7. ok give and take as it was in 1890 you want lake good we want our mbeya all the Tanzanians in the area around mbeya move out you have part of the beautiful lake where you will stay the land belongs to MALAWI

  9. Good ideas guys,but I think international court can justify this lake conflicts. Pachilungamo tisashoshe nkhondo dala cause sitingaimalize,tili Pataki kwa azathuwa

  10. Tanzania is being a greedy bully here obviously. They know they have support of SADC strongest revolutionary parties Frelimo in Moza, ANC, Zanu PF, BDF, /Malawi won’t risk a war that might close the northern corridor to the port of Dar where we get our imports thru. A war with Tanzania has got more economic harm on us than them. Anywhere else there is no discussion over territorial invasion- it’s war. Reason should prevail unless TZ attacks us militarily then we will have to defend ourselves.

  11. Ine ndinabadwila kumalawi ndakulila kumalawi nkalelo lonse sindinkava za nyanja yamalawi kuti.ndi yatanzaniya oka asena anzathu zang’onang’onazi mumazisata eti ndiphuziseni nkasanduka ndikadye asilikali akutanzaniyawo mwachisisi basi

  12. It seems bomatu apa yalephela kuti teteza ena kucha uko mkuzatizatilanda nyanja yathu ife tikungoyang’ana koma kupephelaku mmh ena akakuona kueatsa mkumakuona ngati opusa hhhah they pay it back

  15. True Mr Gerald, ,we can’t just ignore the issue we need to do something in time to resolve the issue once and for all,, Kanyongolo is right the matter is straight forward we shouldn’t be moved by that,, The Taifas are just provoking us.Sending our troops for now to protect our territory is the finest decision for now , in fact that’s what we pay them for.

  17. Vuto liri ndi MDF idangodzadza ndi ankolo, zidzukulu, bambo ndi ana awo, ndie akulingalira kuti tikatumiza MDF akaphetsa ana awo akadakhala kuti amalembanso alendo iiiii bwenzi atakachita defend kale kale, zikakuvutani kumeneko ndie mudzayambeno kumangotolera aliyense m,midzi tidzakukanirani

  22. Mu Africa malawi ili zero percent interms of fighting, Trible war courses aproblem all the time, komabe sitingarore mbali yathu ipite ayi ,if the discussion field try war it’s only last solution about this issue

  24. Kkkkkk koma athu ena nkumati mwafikapo khawa nje ngati luso lathu maiko amaziwa ndiye asatizunze ai ife pakamwa ai koma zida or manja agwire ntchito basi

  26. Lets fight watafucker thy r doin our soilders nyanja ikutengedwa while they are watching wake up(dzuka Malawi)lMR Peter Muthalika remember wat u said nthawi ya campain u jst also keep quite lyk you don’t see zomwe aTZ akuchitazi but you r busy with land bill shame Malawi maybe we don’t have presendent?This is sh**t we are goin to fight for our lake no discussion no excuse Comullad

  27. The problem is with Tanzania, what they want is to grab the through war but Malawi is relactant and TZ is aware that lake belongs to Malawi the whole lake no any portion singled except Mozambique , and ithink this time around no need for disscussions lets fight them.Whoever wins the war, the whole lake betaken to the wining side,coz no need to share then the bones of late Kamuzu will get angry . Our president should seek views from people he mustnt rush for sharing the lake .Kamuzu was the only one who could have given the portion to TZ .No matter they are bigger than us but war does not regard

  31. Why magesi black out too much munyasamo but failing to solve??? nde mukuti tithirane nkhondo, chala mmimba thoooo muzithamanga bwanji?? hahahahah Malawi wafikapo,,,,,,,, mumva mazi mumayeñda mmbali…. asiyileni nyañjayo mubwere muzidya nkhuku nďimazila kuno mwatani a Malawi changamukanikoni plź

  34. The Issue Of Lake Nyasa Is Not De Issue To Discuss Becoz The Whole Of The Lake Belongs To Nyasa Whch Z Nw Knwn As Malawi.

  36. Tiyen tilole kt mwaz wathu ukhale dizilo yoyendetsera dzko lino,zafkapa ine nde zandkwana kma mr president aktnj pankhanyi

  38. tanzanians must learn to respect others just as mwalim Julias Nyerere did, he’s a man of integrity & dynamic leadership style we respectd him

  41. Pepho ku boma dzukani tz ikuopyeza chitetezo chathu amalawi. Anthu talera ndife ndi anthu otsapunzira saziwa mbiri ya bonder yawo futi saiziwa.

  46. Mr Ric you sound as a School drop out.Can’t you see your comment has numerous holes and punches,hence can’t add up.What your president should know is,lake Malawi was and will remain a possession of Nyasaland.Should we assume the line was moving on your side alone?The lake was yours but we say the line has moved to the middle, what are you morons trying to mean? Foolishness doesn’t signify not going to school but some educated ones are fools,that what i see today and right here.

  58. I think a small slice for TZ would be acceptable. We have alot to lose if we engage in verbal wars. Remember we are land locked and our relationship with our neighbours is sour with the current leadership in place

  63. Masodier ake at koma kuba ekhayo amene angakuze dzina lamulungu ambuye azamuchitira chison Malawi tiyen tipemphe kwatate azatifewetsera

  66. What is yours you don’t take it by force,you might loose even the little you have paying after war, two sides talk as a family then satisfied with what you will have, War is loos , love you Malawian

  67. Fuso langa kwa mtsogoleli wa dziko lino komaso wakulu wa asilikali ankhondo adziko lino,kodi asilikaliwa mumawalembela kuti azivina pelete basi??nanga ifeyo mdziko muno tiziti tili ndichitetezo??nanga bwanji mukusekelela zopusa?fuso lina likupita ku mabwalo amilandu komaso police,muthu akaba mkhuku koma kumusaka mpaka usiku osatopa mukamungwila ndiye kummenya mothesa khama nkumugamulaso 20 years ali mundende nanga awa akuba nyanjawa muwatani?komaso dziwani ichi ngati simupangapo kathu musiye pansi maudindo anu kukmala commanda in chief sikutathauza kuti muzikavina nda azimayi kusokhano ayi,asilikali athu ngati muli ndi matha nenani alipo achinyamata omwe anapangapo za usilikali ku myp muone zomwe angachite tipaseni mwayi muone,dziko ndi dziko silingakhale ndi ndege 6 za khondo koma kuba ndiye pasogolo

  69. A border cannot be on the shore line of a lake because it keeps on changing. The border is in the middle. In Tanzania we have lake Victoria, Tanganyika, Rukwa, Nyasa or Malawi, Eyasi and Natron. A meeting between your President and Magufuli will not happen at the UNGA because the latter will not attend and as I am speaking he is still in Dar es Salaam.

    2. It is not as easy as that. Did you know that Tanzania was once called Tanganyika so do the lake bordering DRC, Burundi and Rwanda. The border is at the middle. So a name doesn’t guarantee possession of the whole lake

    4. you are just showing some ingorancy on the lake issue,,,,,my friend if you got ababy,you call that baby name called james,,,,after some years then that boy called himself a new name called john,,,,are you telling me that,that boy is no more your child koz he changes the name?

    5. Name is no big deal my friend. Remember we have same tribes in both countries. In Tanzania we have Nyasa tribe on the shore of the Lake I believe they are also in Malawi, Nyakyusa, and many more. So here we call the lake Nyasa

    6. On your case because we have Lake Tanganyika the former name of our country we should claim the whole lake and leave our DRC, Burundi brothers. Think twice

    9. my friend dig your history and find out if you got lake malawi in your book,,,,just simple thing you to understand,was tanizania called nyasaland long time ago?

    11. Charles Nkhomah! I know what I am talking about. Here we don’t call it Malawi. It is Lake Nyasa.

    12. Ric hard what ur saying is rubbish. Ur former president clearly stated that lake Malawi belongs to Malawians and no single water belongs to Tanzanians- Benjamin nkapa. I wonder were ur new leaders are getting all this madness that lake Malawi is to be divided. Go to hell

    13. You call it lake nyasa cuz by then the country was called nyasaland, after we changed it to Malawi, the lake is international recognised and recorded everywhere by the name ‘Lake Malawi’ why? : because it is in Malawi

    14. I know for sure Malawi was called Nyasaland. But a name is not a guarantee of possession. We also have another lake please read about it. It is Lake Tanganyika. This Lake was named after our former name (Tanganyika) before uniting with Zanzibar and changed to Tanzania. But it is shared with DRC, Burundi and Rwanda. No where in the world you can find water line of a lake being a border as Malawi claims. Water increase and decrease remember. So in this regard will you agree a new border if the lake dries out. Try to be critical.

    18. May Almighty God open your mind and meditate.One thing i know ma God wil fight for Malawians coz historically this lake which the world,i mean including Tanzanians call it Lake MALAWI,its theirs.And even your foreparents knew this b4.

    19. Guyz this Tanzanians they want wars so let’s agreed them we don’t fear them, this is lake Malawi not lake Tanzania shirt!!!!! We r on target against u, its enough!! Don’t destroy our beautiful lake!!!

    20. Lake belong to Malawi not toTanzania, Ric Hard is talking rubbish (sheet), my Fellow Malawian let fight 4 our ‘Lake’ before we go to War let ask German and Britain to show us where the boundary was! Tanzania mwano koma Chilungamo chake akuchiziwa kudelere basi mwaputa anthu asaputika

    21. Lake belong to Malawi not toTanzania, Ric Hard is talking rubbish (sheet), my Fellow Malawian let fight 4 our ‘Lake’ before we go to War let ask German and Britain to show us where the boundary was! Tanzania mwano koma Chilungamo chake akuchiziwa kudelere basi mwaputa anthu asaputika

    24. I dont think Ric Hard has ever done history about Colonialism of Nyasaland and Tanzania. If you Mr Ric Hard dig deep on the former boundaries of TZ and Malawi you will find that you Tanzanians you owl us a portion of land close to Mbeya.

    25. Africa we are one. You cannot tell me that the colonialists came and gave you the lake while it was there since then shared among Malawians and Tanzanians. You guys do you really know that there are Tanzanians who were born touching the water.

    29. They are talking sh*t. The name Nyasa(Nyasaland) which is now Malawi. And where is the new map coming 4rm. Who drafted it. They cant draft it by themselves without Nyaland(MALAWI). Why drawing a new map? What wrong with the old one. It think they are taking advantage of current leadership. Where were was Tanganyika when the map was drawn long time ago.

    31. th problem off keeping too much thrush in th country. th start coming small small to do busness en yet thy ar spying on us we need to chase Tanzania n out off our country fist, show thm tht we cnt allow thm to take wt is ours.

    34. Mercie Petras and Rafick Aca Black China! Don’t believe in war because there is always no winner. We are all black brothers.

    35. Ric Hard your argument is baseless. The entire Lake belongs to Malawians if we are to go by the Heligo land treaty of 1890 signed by our colonial masters Britain and Germany. It was a give and take deal Nyasaland sacrificed part of its land in order to get the control of the lake. Previously the border was at Mbeya not Kisimulu meaning that Tukuyu, Kiera Songea etcetra was part of Malawi. But the heligo land treaty changed every thing.

    36. Please Tanzania I beg you in the name of Jesus, stay away from our Lake. Malawians always believes in peaceful solutions but now slowly we loosing our tempers I know you planning something. Kill us all we are ready to die for our Lake

    38. even adrop of water from the lake malawi does not belong to tanzania they are just playing with fire yes we might be poor but we know how to fight and we are ready to die for it so where ware you all these year you must be crazy

  73. Nkhani imeneyi tidatopa nayo ife chifukwa atsogoleri nonsenu ndinu amantha ndiye zikhale choncho

  77. What Is Going on There Tz? Whats Wrong With U Tz? Pliz We Like Peaceful and stability 4m Long Ago, We Do So As Away Of Respectin Fools 2 Avoid Noise, Acordin 2 De Words Of God (BIBLE). IF OUR MILITARY CANT FIGHT 4 US GOD IS GOING 2 INTERVEN, WHILE WE R JUST WATCHING.

  81. Lest state a wor they can beat us@we need to beat those facking swahil peaple around malawi @lake malawi is malawi how came now they fuck us around

  84. NKHONDOTU IMANUNKHA ,MUKUNGOTI TIIMENYE TZ ‘ MUMAIDZIWA NKHONDO MAVUTO AMENE IMABWERA NAO ? Tiyeni tiganize bwino,mwina tizilimbana ndi Ufa omweu bwa:! ?

  85. Ntchito za ma soja aku malawi…kumenya mpila ..kuyimba kwaya.. kulondera nkhalango kumenya anthu wamba ..kumwa mowa ndi kusota chamba….

    1. Army rankings and expenditures do not fight wars. USA army was defeated in Vietnam. Russia was defeated in Afghanistan. Spain was defeated in Ethiopia. You see where I am going? Let’s talk peace.

    3. Don’t underrate our Army,remember they have a very good truck record when it comes to UN peace keeping missions.tanzanians are just nothing but greedy.

  87. MDF ndalama ikuthera kuma club ampira nde tz ili ndima jet fighter inu mahelcopter 6 eish kaya tiwona musaiwale tz inagonjetsapo Uganda ndeyamalire amaidziwa bwino

    3. kkjkķjkkķkkk Ankala ukuñamatu iweyo a Malawi ovutikavutika angaphule çhani ukamati nkhondo sizida nde muzikamenyaña ndi manjà? ??? khalani serious man

  89. #Ulova wachuluka,tipaseni mizingayo tikayishoshe kkk! nanga ma luso a ku DRC,KOSOVO,IVORY COAST tizawonesa liti?(operation teteza nyanja)kkk! mukachedwa ndipita ndekha malawian commando.

  90. #Ulova wachuluka,tipaseni mizingayo tikayishoshe kkk! nanga ma luso a ku DRC,KOSOVO,IVORY COAST tizawonesa liti?(operation teteza nyanja)kkk! mukachedwa ndipita ndekha malawian commando.

  91. #Ulova wachuluka,tipaseni mizingayo tikayishoshe kkk! nanga ma luso a ku DRC,KOSOVO,IVORY COAST tizawonesa liti?(operation teteza nyanja)kkk! mukachedwa ndipita ndekha malawian commando.

  93. #Ulova wachuluka,tipaseni mizingayo tikayishoshe kkk! nanga ma luso a ku DRC,KOSOVO,IVORY COAST tizawonesa liti?(operation teteza nyanja)kkk! mukachedwa ndipita ndekha malawian commando.

  94. #Ulova wachuluka,tipaseni mizingayo tikayishoshe kkk! nanga ma luso a ku DRC,KOSOVO,IVORY COAST tizawonesa liti?(operation teteza nyanja)kkk! mukachedwa ndipita ndekha malawian commando.

  95. #Ulova wachuluka,tipaseni mizingayo tikayishoshe kkk! nanga ma luso a ku DRC,KOSOVO,IVORY COAST tizawonesa liti?(operation teteza nyanja)kkk! mukachedwa ndipita ndekha malawian commando.

  96. #Ulova wachuluka,tipaseni mizingayo tikayishoshe kkk! nanga ma luso a ku DRC,KOSOVO,IVORY COAST tizawonesa liti?(operation teteza nyanja)kkk! mukachedwa ndipita ndekha malawian commando.

  97. #Ulova wachuluka,tipaseni mizingayo tikayishoshe kkk! nanga ma luso a ku DRC,KOSOVO,IVORY COAST tizawonesa liti?(operation teteza nyanja)kkk! mukachedwa ndipita ndekha malawian commando.

  98. #Ulova wachuluka,tipaseni mizingayo tikayishoshe kkk! nanga ma luso a ku DRC,KOSOVO,IVORY COAST tizawonesa liti?(operation teteza nyanja)kkk! mukachedwa ndipita ndekha malawian commando.

  99. #Ulova wachuluka,tipaseni mizingayo tikayishoshe kkk! nanga ma luso a ku DRC,KOSOVO,IVORY COAST tizawonesa liti?(operation teteza nyanja)kkk! mukachedwa ndipita ndekha malawian commando.

    3. War involves military capability:
      *logistics
      *mobility
      *alliances from neighours
      *and expenditure.

      Besides Army ratings we are below them, you can check on Wikipedia.

  106. up to date am ctll gettng confused coz am nw in tz whn i ask tanzanians they r sayng that they have 4 lakes including lake nyasa to the side of malaw it is being said we r havng 4 lakes includng lake nyasa.bt the qstn whch am likely to ask my self is that if the lake belongs to tz then how come it is being called lake nyasa whch is colonial name of current malawi.

    5. MBULI ZA ANTHU IWO ALI NAYO YOTCHEDWA LAKE TANGANYIKA IYI OKHA AMATI LAKE NYASA KAPENA LAKE MALAWI HOW COME LERO NDI LERO ADZITI LAKE NDI YATHU PAJA ANZATHU AMBIRI MWA IWO NDI AJA AMAKONDA NKHONDO KOMABE ZOSAVEKA

  111. There iz no xolution in war asiyen atenge mukuonangat zikayamba zithelapopo my request to oll malawiaz tipephele kut zithuz zithe ndakhalapo maiko akhondo czithu guyz amat respect to the full to avoid noise r violece

  115. Anything that Tanzania need from our lake has it’s cost they must know we are not scared for anything

  118. I respect you Mr Kanyongolo but I don’t agree with you for just ignoring this issue. Every country monitors its border . We cant send our men and women in uniform to patrol that section of the border because of Tanzania’s intrusion. If they just draw the map but not forcing rules I can say yes, but Tanzania even dictate Malawi there and that should be rectified we can’t ignore at all. You control your territory

  121. Asilikali athu ali phee osatekeseka pankhaniyi koma kungova kut M’malawi zawo akuotcha makala kunkhalango amachita kupolisha bwino Jombo kut akamuponde nayoo… Shame Mw

    3. kodi nkhondo amazisainila okha asilikali?ngati choti mukomente palibe kumango khala osati kunyoza ayi ,,kuti nkhondo iyambike pamakhala zochitika chitika zambiri osamangomva

  127. anthu amenewa ngat akufuna khondo enafe tili okonzeka tipite ku military atiphunzitse zina ndi zina chifukwa nkhani imeneyi yandikwiyitsa kooopsa…I want this to be solved once for all. ngat sakufuna kuvomeleza kut nyanja ndi yathu tiwathile khondo basi

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