[nngu007]

By ADAM IHUCHA | Special Correspondent | July 28 2012

A fresh row is brewing between Tanzania and Malawi over the ownership of Lake Nyasa, one of the world’s largest freshwater bodies.

Home to 1,000 endemic species of fish, estimated to be more than any other place on earth, Lake Nyasa (referred to as Lake Malawi in Southern Africa) is located at the junction of Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.

With an estimated fish stock of 168,000 tonnes, Lake Nyasa sustains nearly 10 million people in these three riparian countries.

The latest dispute has been prompted by Malawi fishing and tourist boats allegedly encroaching on Tanzanian territorial waters on the grounds that the whole water body belongs to their country.

Whereas Malawi maintains that it owns the entire lake, Tanzania claims the border is in the middle of the water body, intensifying animosity between the two neighbouring countries.

The Member of Parliament for Mbeya Region (special seats), Hilda Ngoye, last week informed the Tanzanian parliament that in recent weeks, Malawi has been conducting tourism activities beyond its territorial waters.

Ms Ngoye charged that the Malawian tourists and fishing boats have been trespassing on Tanzanian territorial waters at will, escalating tensions.

“Tanzanians around Lake Nyasa’s shores have the right to fish or engage in other productive activities on the lake, without being intimidated,” she told parliament, demanding an explanation from the government on the status of the border between Tanzania and Malawi.

This development comes at a time when the two countries have formed a joint team to resolve the issue of the shifting River Songwe border by creating dams to be used for the economic benefit of the people of Malawi and Tanzania.

The standoff over the lake is reminiscent of a recent dispute between Kenya and Uganda over the tiny Lake Victoria archipelago of Migingo.

Responding to Ms Ngoye’s remarks, Attorney General Frederick Werema said Tanzania would seek international intervention in case diplomatic negotiations on the border dispute did not bear fruit.

“We don’t want Tanzanians to ask for permission from Malawi to fetch water or fish from Lake Nyasa,” Judge Werema said, adding, “If we don’t reach a consensus, we will take recourse in international law.”

He explained that international law requires a border to be in the middle of a water body. Recently, Tanzania announced plans to purchase a new $9 million ferry to ply Lake Nyasa’s waters, provoking a critical response from the Malawian government.

A Malawian government spokesperson said, “Like any international operation, we will need to sign a memorandum of understanding for them to start operating in a foreign water body.”

An official in Malawi’s Ministry of Lands who requested anonymity said Tanzania has no legal right to start operating on Lake Malawi as the issues of the border was still unresolved.

“We have been holding talks over the borders of Lake Malawi (Lake Nyasa) with Tanzania and since we haven’t agreed to anything as of now, the issue of sharing it with Tanzania does not exist,” said the official.

Another source in Malawi told The EastAfrican in Arusha that the perception of a majority of Malawians back home was that the entire lake and even Kyela in Mbeya belongs to their country.

In the early 1960s, Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda, then president of Malawi, had claimed that Lake Nyasa and the whole of Mbeya area in Tanzania were part of Malawi.

As a result, a committee was appointed by both countries to solve the dispute over the border and the lake’s name.

To date, however, no one knows whether it was agreed on that the lake be named Lake Nyasa or Lake Malawi or if it was given another name altogether.

Records show that Tanzania’s president Julius Nyerere said that he did not care if the name was Lake Nyasa, Malawi, Banda or Kamuzu, but “borders were not negotiable.”

Efforts by The EastAfrican to get a comment from the new Malawian government spokesperson, Moses Kunkuyu, who is also the Minister of Information and Civic Education, proved futile as he did not respond to e-mails.

Anna Mghwira, a political analyst, said while the situation on Lake Nyasa remains calm today, the complexity of the boundary disputes between the two developing nations is a time bomb.

“The two countries ought to conclude the issue once and for all, otherwise this wrangle will escalate into unnecessary skirmishes in future,” Ms Mghwira noted.

Lake Nyasa, Africa’s third largest lake at 580km long and up to 80km wide in spots, has been named among the most beautiful places in the world by tourism and travel experts.

============
[Daily News] Tanzania tells Malawi to respect diplomatic resolution on Lake Nyasa

TANZANIA has called on the Republic of Malawi Government and the companies carrying out exploration of oil and gas in the eastern part of Lake Nyasa to stop doing so until a standoff between the two countries over the ownership of the lake is resolved.

Speaking to reporters after the end of the two-day meeting of both countries, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Bernard Membe stated categorically that Tanzania wants all the exploration activities in the north east part of the lake to be shelved to pave way for the on-going discussions to resolve the crisis.

"We told our colleagues from the Republic of Malawi that any exploration or research activities for oil and gas prospects must stop forthwith as their presence was likely to jeopardize the on-going negotiations and pose a security threat," the minister noted. The minister also said that Tanzania’s security authorities have also spotted some aircrafts claimed to belong to the oil and gas researching companies from Malawi flying in the Tanzania airspace without a permit from the Tanzania Aviation Authority.

Malawi claimed they were not aware of the incident. In this stand-off, Tanzania is seeking 50 per cent of the ownership of the lake while Malawi claims 100 percent ostensibly that the whole part of the lake under dispute belonged to Malawi. He said the purpose of the meeting aimed at reviving the stalled negotiations on the delineation, demarcation,delimitation and re-affirmation of the boundaries between Tanzania and Malawi on the lake and setting up a roadmap and programme of implementation for the boundary programme.

The two countries also stressed the importance of resolving the issue of boundary on the lake diplomatically. Another meeting at the level of Joint Committee of Experts, Joint Committee of Officials and the Council of Ministers on Malawi/Tanzania Boundary is scheduled to take place in Mzuzuon 20 August, 2012.

Tanzania’s delegation at the meeting was led by Mr Membe and Malawi’s delegation was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Ephraim Mganda Chiume.

[hukumundo]

Tusiwe wepesi kushabikia vita. Tuwe wepesi kupata suluhu ya kidiplomasia. Vita ni kitu kibaya sana sana. Ni lazima kwanza kutafuta njia zote za kumaliza tatizo bila shari kabla ya kuingia vitani. Je, tumefanya jitihada zote za kuelewa chanzo na kutafuta ufumbuzi usio wa shari? Je, mnafikiri Wamalawi waliamka tu na kuamua mpaka uwe hapo? Tusomeni historia. Kama jambo ni rahisi hivi kwa nini halijatatulika toka enzi za Mwalimu?

[nngu007]

Ni wachokozi hawa. Wakumbuke kipigo cha 1967. Urguement yao moja ni kuwa hata mpaka wa ziwa siyo katikati ya ziwa ila ukingoni upande wa TZ. Vile vile "Nyasa" (Nyanza kwa Kisukuma) kikwao maana yake ni Ziwa kwa hivo huwezi kuliita Ziwa Nyasa kwa maana ya "Ziwa ziwa".

Sikujua tuliwapiga 67' ndio Maana Kamuzu akawakimbilia Makaburu? LOL

[ZeMarcopolo]

Wapuuzi hawa, kama wanataka kufundishwa adabu tutawafundisha.

[nngu007]

Dawa ya watu hawa wa Malawi ni kupeleka jeshi tu basi!

Kama M7 alivyofanya kule migingo ni bora kuzuia mapema kuliko kuja kupambana na madhara yatakayotukuta wamalawi wengi wanaamini mbeya yote mpaka Ruvuma ni yakwao ipo siku wakati sisi watu wako busy kuiba mali ya umma nchi itamegwa na majirani zetu maana sisi tumelala usingizi wa pono. Nchi yetu haiheshimiwi tena kama enzi za zamani!

Tumeibiwa mali asili na wageni sasa wengine wanataka kuanza kugawana nchi yetu,tutakua kama Congo tukiendelea hivi, hata Congo walisambalatika kwa mitindindo ya kukithili kwa Ufisadi.

Hivi serikali hawaoni hatari hiyo? Wabunge wetu wamekalia kugombana kuibia Tanesco wengine tuliwaamini kumbe matapeli wa kubwa! Napenda msimamo wa Nyerere alisema wanaweza kuliita jina lolote ziwa nyasa kama vile banda,kamuzu lakini swala na mpaka halina mjadala, sasa angalia kumbe wamalawi wanafika mpaka upande wa Tanzania na sisi tumekaa kimya!

Ama kweli wajinga ndiyo waliwao.

Hili ni Suala Ambalo UINGEREZA ililiacha tata MAKUSUDI baada ya kuona TANGANYIKA baada ya UHURU mwelekeo wake

Nyerere alisha peleka suala hili UN; lakini ilionekana kama alishinda na nakumbuka JINA la Ziwa lilibadilishwa kuwa

Lake MALAWI na Vitabu vyetu vya Shule vilibadilishwa wakaweka mabano (NYASA). na Katika Geography wakati ule

Shule zetu hazikuwa haziongelei sana Lake Nyasa-Malawi; lakini tulikuwa tunaambiwa kulikuwa na Mgogoro na nadhani

Banda na Nyerere walitakiwa wakae walishughulikie suala hili.... Wee isingewezekana...

[proisra]

Anajitafutia balaa

======================

Rais J.K aliapa kuilinda Katiba na Mipaka yote ya Nchi..... Sasa haya yote amefumbia macho, kama Amiri Jeshi Mkuu, anapaswa kuamuru KICHAPO kwanza kwa hizo ndege za researchers wa Malawi, then negotiations baadae! Naamini si vibaya kuwaonjesha ladha ya utayari wetu ktk vita.

[Njowepo]

Hawa wamalawi wameona Tz kwa sasa ina viongozi dhaifu na legelege ndo maana wanaraise izo issue ukizingatia ziwa lina mafuta basi moto unzidi wa kukomaaa kuwa lao lote
Jiulize mbona upande wa mozambique hawasemi kuwa lao lote na mpaka uko kati kati na sio kwa shoreline kama Tz!
Alafu Membe mambo ya blah blah kwenye issue nyeti kama izi muache ilo ziwe litaenda na next watataka kyela na mbambabay!
Ndugu zangu wamalawi mind u are a landlocked country tutazuia mizigo yenu yote kupitia bandari salama!

[Duduwasha]

======================

Rais J.K aliapa kuilinda Katiba na Mipaka yote ya Nchi..... Sasa haya yote amefumbia macho, kama Amiri Jeshi Mkuu, anapaswa kuamuru KICHAPO kwanza kwa hizo ndege za researchers wa Malawi, then negotiations baadae! Naamini si vibaya kuwaonjesha ladha ya utayari wetu ktk vita.

Tizama Mipaka vizuri Mkuu Lake lote lipo upande wa Malawi na Msumbiji Tanzania haiana Ziwa so Vita vya nini? je Ushawahi Tizama Ramani ya Zinjibar miaka ya Nyuma?

[tz1]

kama kawaida ya Ccm walisha uza ziwa nyasa siku nyingi.

[Duduwasha]

kama kawaida ya Ccm walisha uza ziwa nyasa siku nyingi.

Ukitizama fresh hata Lake Tanganyika walishaliuza Kitambo Pia kwa DRC na Zambia..

Bora Turejee na Jina letu la Kale Azania kama Ramani ya Mwaka 1584

[Duduwasha]

The East African nation of Tanzania was formed out of the union of the much larger mainland territory of Tanganyika and the coastal archipelago of Zanzibar. The former was a colony and part of German East Africa from the 1880s to 1919, when, under the League of Nations, it became a British mandate until independence in 1961. It served as a military outpost during World War II, providing financial help, munitions, and soldiers. Zanzibar was settled as a trading hub, subsequently controlled by the Portuguese, the Sultanate of Oman, and then as a British protectorate by the end of the nineteenth century. Julius Nyerere ruled the country for decades and repressed all opposition. Years of socialism led to corruption on a massive scale and a collapse of the economy. Following Nyerere's retirement in 1985, various political and economic reforms began.

[fumu]

Tusiwe wepesi kushabikia vita. Tuwe wepesi kupata suluhu ya kidiplomasia. Vita ni kitu kibaya sana sana. Ni lazima kwanza kutafuta njia zote za kumaliza tatizo bila shari kabla ya kuingia vitani. Je, tumefanya jitihada zote za kuelewa chanzo na kutafuta ufumbuzi usio wa shari? Je, mnafikiri Wamalawi waliamka tu na kuamua mpaka uwe hapo? Tusomeni historia. Kama jambo ni rahisi hivi kwa nini halijatatulika toka enzi za Mwalimu?

Upande wa Pili wa shilingi, Jamuhuri ya Watu wa Zanzibar kwanza.Zambi ya wizi na kuhozi maeneo ya nchi nyengine inawatafuna Wadanganyika....

[Ogah]

Great Thinkers, You should trust your government, it is very stable and everything concerning the border conflict over lake Nyasa is under control.

Never jump to an issue brother.

Boy! what are talking about?............"lake Nyasa is under control"?....wakati watu wanaingia hadi chumbani kwako.........unakuwa kama yule Waziri wa Saddam Hussein....eti kila kitu "under control".........under control my foot.....!

Kama ambavyo wao Wa-Malawi wanaprotect upande wao.....kitu gani kinachozuia na sisi kufanya vivyo hivyo.......huu Ukondoo utatuisha lini jamani..........A signal must be sent......tulifanya hivyo kwa Burundi & Rwanda ....kitu gani kinatushinda kipande hii?..........damn!

[Zogwale]

Migogoro ya mipaka huwa ni mibaya sana. Hawa viongozi wetu Malawi na Tanzania wakubaliane hii issue kabla haijaleta madhara.

[KyelaBoy]

Dah wakisema wilaya ya Kyela nayo ni ya Malawi ina maana Mwakyembe na akina mimi ni raia wa Malawi,mambo mengine ni kutuletea shida tu wakati tulizonazo baado tunatabika nazo

[Ogah]

tuko LOUSY sana katika kulinda mipaka yetu mpaka watu wanachokoza chokoza (JWTZ wamekuwa wachovu kwenye hili suala)........ukingalia hata mpaka wetu na Uganda nao unaivamiwa wavamiwa na wakazi kutoka Uganda...........na hata kuna sehemu nyingine wanapoteza/vunja zile permanent markers.........taarifa zinatolewa.........sisi tumelala tu........damn!

[Mkandara]

The East African nation of Tanzania was formed out of the union of the much larger mainland territory of Tanganyika and the coastal archipelago of Zanzibar. The former was a colony and part of German East Africa from the 1880s to 1919, when, under the League of Nations, it became a British mandate until independence in 1961. It served as a military outpost during World War II, providing financial help, munitions, and soldiers. Zanzibar was settled as a trading hub, subsequently controlled by the Portuguese, the Sultanate of Oman, and then as a British protectorate by the end of the nineteenth century. Julius Nyerere ruled the country for decades and repressed all opposition. Years of socialism led to corruption on a massive scale and a collapse of the economy. Following Nyerere's retirement in 1985, various political and economic reforms began.

Ebu tazameni maji yoote tulokuwa nayo haya na hata hesabu ya mito na maziwa..Halafu unaambiwa hatuna maji safi.. Bora hata hiyo Lake Nyasa wachukue Malawi we don't deserve to be guardians..

[Githeri]

Tizama Mipaka vizuri Mkuu Lake lote lipo upande wa Malawi na Msumbiji Tanzania haiana Ziwa so Vita vya nini? je Ushawahi Tizama Ramani ya Zinjibar miaka ya Nyuma?

Kwa argument yako ya kuangalia hiyo ramani, una maana hata lake Tanganyika halipo Tanzania?

[ITEGAMATWI]

Hivi hatuwezi kuwapa discipline hawa jamaa?What is Malawi by the way?

[Jasusi]

Sikujua tuliwapiga 67' ndio Maana Kamuzu akawakimbilia Makaburu? LOL

nngu007,
Mwaka 1967 Kamuzu alileta meli zake ziwani upande wetu zikapinduliwa na "viboko" waliotoka Tanzania. Tangu wakati huo hakusubutu tena.

[Jasusi]

Kwa argument yako ya kuangalia hiyo ramani, una maana hata lake Tanganyika halipo Tanzania?

Hizi ramani zimechakachuliwa. Nilipokuwa primary school wakati wa enzi za ukoloni, ramani ya kwanza ya Tanganyika tuliyotumia darasani ilionyesha mpaka wa Tanganyika ukipita katikati ya Ziwa Nyasa.