Malawi, Tanzania mediation talks hailed

Jul 16, 2017 Politics 41
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Mutharika, Magufuli

One of the country’s political commentators has hailed the resumption of mediation talks between Malawi and Tanzania over the longstanding Lake Malawi dispute saying it is a huge step towards resolving the dispute.

Malawi government last week participated in the mediation talks on the Lake Malawi boundary dispute with Tanzania which took place in South Africa.

In an interview with Malawi24, political commentator Wonderful Mkhutche said the talks are necessary and at this stage, Malawi has to take part.

Wonderful Mkhutche
Wonderful Mkhutche: These talks are very important.

“This is an advanced and a diplomatic mutual talk. Delegates from the two countries will provide their case to the mediators. But at the centre of everything are two presidents from Malawi and Tanzania.

“Malawi has maintained the stand that the lake is within its boundaries. The President has taken a tough stand on that. This has helped in shaping the argument to Malawi’s favour. Should Malawi and Tanzania agree on the outcome, we should expect this dispute to be solved in the long run,” he said.

He added that it depends on what will come out of the mediation process but said the two countries have sent highly powered delegations which means the talks are going to cover a lot of issues.

Mkhutche noted that resources have been at the centre of most conflicts and the Lake Malawi dispute should not be overlooked claiming such kind of conflicts easily escalate.

The High Level Mediation Team (HLMT) led by His Excellency Joaquim Chissano former President of Mozambique, and His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, former President of South Africa is facilitating the talks.

The Malawi delegation was led by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Honourable Francis Kasaila. The group included Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Honourable Samuel Tembenu and other senior government officials.

Having heard from both delegations, the HLMT proposed that it should brief and consult Presidents Peter Mutharika and John Magufuli, for their Excellencies’ further guidance on the resolution.

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41 Comments

  2. This long post is a must-read for those who want to know in-depth about the Malawi-Tanzania boundary dispute, especially its genesis. This is from a paper by James Mayall, Lecturer in International Relations, The London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London:

    HOW IT ALL BEGAN

    From 1922, when Britain was awarded the mandate for German East Africa, until 1961, when Tanzania became independent, the boundary with Malawi had been a matter of administrative convenience rather than political importance. But it is evident, from the inconsistency of the maps used in both territories during the mandate, that there was, from the start, some confusion as to exactly where it lay.

    The point, however, is that the Government in Dar-es-Salaam accepted, both before and immediately after independence, that no part of the Lake fell within its jurisdiction. In May 1959, in the Tanganyika Legislative Council, the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources replied to a question about the boundary in the following terms:

    “In the Treaty of Peace made with Germany after the 1914-1918 War, the boundaries of Tanganyika followed those described in Article II of the Anglo-German agreement of 1890. The description of the southern boundaries of Tanganyika, which include the boundaries of Nyasaland, are as follows: ‘from the point of confluence of the Rovuma River with the Msinje River, the boundary runs westward along the parallel of that point until it reaches Lake Nyasa, thence striking northward it follows the Eastern, Northern and Western shores of Lake Nyasa to the northern bank of the mouth of the River Songwe; it ascends that river to the point of its intersection by the 33rd degree of east longitude’.”

    This did not satisfy members of the Council who evidently felt that Tanganyika had as much of an interest in the Lake as Nyasaland, and the Attorney-General undertook to examine the problem. After consultation with the British Colonial Office, the Council was

  4. Tatopa ndikuyang’anira zankhaniyi kenako atiranda tikuona nyanja yathuyi paja amalawi timadzidzimuka zinthu zitachitika kale, asilikali athu aku chirumba barracks plz kharani tcheru chilichonse chitha kuchitika ndithu.

    3. Zoona Zake m’bale asamangogonayi, angayambe kutibwerera kumbuyo anebawa. Kikikik

  9. Now people are busy saying war war war have you ever had a fight with your fellow teens and win ..? No you are always the looser, so don’t act all Rambo and think this is some movies, this is reality this story about lake ,lake by Tanzania is just to test our resolve but all in all they know the truth and they will loose in the end

  10. Yaaa excellent professor Peter muthalika izi ndiye mzelu magufuli akujaira kwambiri kwambiri akusiya macashgate Ku Tanzania kwaoko ndikumalimbana ndi ife amalawi.cholinga choti aziwinire kwao azizauza athu kuti analanda nyanja azamuvoterenso musamusiye abwana peter. wautsilu magufoli pamenepa America ibwere chifukwa Iwo atanzania akudaria German ndiye america IJA ibwere tsopano ndege zoopsa zopanda mapiko zioneke makasinja aoneke ndipo asilikali omwe anasiya magufuli mbali mwa nyanja ICC or united nation irowerepo chifukwa ngati anasiya asilikali kusonyeza kuti magufuli anayamba khondo kale ngakhale amati kumuuza mzako kuti ndikupha kumuonetsa chida amati wapha kale umangidwe .tigure zida ndi ndege zoopsa komaso guy’s ufiti uja omwe timapanga zithu zoopsa tiyeni tilengeropo panyanja yathu chifunga asilikali asazamatione atanzania tizizangopha basi tipange ufiti uliwonse omwe timauziwa tisabise nyangazo akujaira atanzania.khwimisani chitetezo choopsa mukaona muthu wachilendo chonde uzani apolice amugwire Ndimatazania akufuna kuzapanga chipongwe .just fucker Tanzanian most of Tanzania people they didn’t go to school.ndithokozeso Mayi joice banda alowererapo ngati dzika ya dziko lamalawi.opposition tiyeni tithandizane za nyanja amabubgwe amipingo matazania tawapasa ulemu kokwanira tatopa pakufunika kumarireko kumanga barracks ya asilikali akhondo ndikuika makina oopsa owona zomwe zikuchitika asatilowe matanzania lija ndi kale ana amuthalika alive masewera Tanzania isiretu za nyanja siyawo akuba matanzania.

    4. This long post is a must-read for those who want to know in-depth about the Malawi-Tanzania boundary dispute, especially its genesis. This is from a paper by James Mayall, Lecturer in International Relations, The London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London:

      HOW IT ALL BEGAN

      From 1922, when Britain was awarded the mandate for German East Africa, until 1961, when Tanzania became independent, the boundary with Malawi had been a matter of administrative convenience rather than political importance. But it is evident, from the inconsistency of the maps used in both territories during the mandate, that there was, from the start, some confusion as to exactly where it lay.

      The point, however, is that the Government in Dar-es-Salaam accepted, both before and immediately after independence, that no part of the Lake fell within its jurisdiction. In May 1959, in the Tanganyika Legislative Council, the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources replied to a question about the boundary in the following terms:

      “In the Treaty of Peace made with Germany after the 1914-1918 War, the boundaries of Tanganyika followed those described in Article II of the Anglo-German agreement of 1890. The description of the southern boundaries of Tanganyika, which include the boundaries of Nyasaland, are as follows: ‘from the point of confluence of the Rovuma River with the Msinje River, the boundary runs westward along the parallel of that point until it reaches Lake Nyasa, thence striking northward it follows the Eastern, Northern and Western shores of Lake Nyasa to the northern bank of the mouth of the River Songwe; it ascends that river to the point of its intersection by the 33rd degree of east longitude’.”

      This did not satisfy members of the Council who evidently felt that Tanganyika had as much of an interest in the Lake as Nyasaland, and the Attorney-General undertook to examine the problem. After consultation with the British Colonial Office, the Council was

    1. Ndemanga zanu anzanga zikumveka,sichina koma kulilira chuma chathu (nyanja ya Malawi): Inde a TZ akuchimwadi pa m’chitidwe womwe adazolowela polanda za anzao kudzera ku m’chitidwe wa nkhondo.Kodi mukamema mfiti kuti zichitepo kanthu, kodi mwayesa iwowa alibe ufiti?? Kodi azungu mukuwatchulao, america mwayesa ali ndi ife tokha ku MW kuno? Kuli chuma cha mbiri chimene america achita invest ku TZ kusiyana ndiku MW Kotero nkofunika kudziwa nzeru ya azungu pakati pa anthu akuda: muchenjere onsewa azungu mukutchula apawa ndi MOTO WA LUPSYA!! A MALAWI, ine mfundo yanga yili pa MAPEMPHERO!! YEHOVA ADATIPATSA NYANJAYI TIMUONETSE AMALIONGO NDI ZOFUNA ZAO: OSATI UMFITI,FUTI KAPENA MPENI KOMA PEMPHERO: YEHOVA ADZATIYANKHA: OSATI NKHONDO!!!

  15. Let Magufuli be told that Mbeya Songea and other two Districts belong to Malawi as per Heligo treaty , Tanzanians cAn access. Drinking water and fishing but not a mandate to have authority over it , Malawi fisheries should oversee and control over fishing they cAn use transport to and fro on the shorelines but they caution that its Malawis lake! That’s all!

    1. A GOOD & WELL COMPLEMENTARY COMENT FROM KALITSILO: U HAVE SHOWN U KNOW HISTORY: FOR MOST OF THESE COMENTETORS DO NOT KNOW WHERE MBEYA BELONGED TO: LET ALONE HELIGOLAND-TREATY: LET THE TRUTH PREVAIL!!!

    3. NO! NO! NO! DO NOT DREAM ABOUT BLOOD-SHED!! DREAM & PRAY FOR PEACEFUL DISCUSSIONS TO THE DISPUTES: AFTER ALL, I DO NOT SEE ANY REASON WHY THE TWO SISTER COUNTRIES SHOULD FIGHT, BECAUSE BOTH CATCH FISH ON THE SAME LAKE & SELL TO EITHER SIDE: SOMETHING SINISTER & SATANIC IS INDEED CAUSING CONFUSION BETWEEN TWO SISTER & NEIBHOURING COUNTRIES: MY PLEA TO BOTH STATE PRESIDENTS OF TZ & MW IS: PLEASE DO NOT LET YOUR LEGACIES B DENTED WITH BLOOD OF INNOCENT PEOPLE BUT B PROUD OF YOUR ECONOMIC-DEVELOPEMENT!! GOD IS GOING TO BLESS U FOR THAT ON THAT DAY!! DO NOT KILL PEOPLE NOR THROW THEM INTO THE FORESTS!!!

  19. For how long mr Coward.Conclude the matter we need the positive results ..The lake belongs to Malawi n one will change that. Tz s taking advantage bcz of our weak presidency. the demarcation was there for more than a century.

    4. Same Presdent ananenetsa kut nyanja belongs to Malawians ndipo palibe kuchotsera kapena kuonjezera iwe unalikuti?umafuna nkhondo kapena galu iwe?

  20. Vuto la Mugufuli ndi wa makani. But APM must stay strong, the lake is all ours. That’s why even Tanzanians call it lake Nyasa.

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