Kurzweil
JF-Expert Member
- May 25, 2011
- 6,622
- 8,397
Malawi is known as the Warm
Heart of Africa because of its
peace and tranquility but the
current diplomatic row with
her neighbour Tanzania has
created panic among its
people, particularly those
living along the two
countries border.
The fear has ensued
following media reports
quoting Tanzania authorities
that they were ready to go
to war with Malawi if the
country continues with its
plans to explore gas and oil
on Lake Malawi.
Malawi awarded a contract to
UKs Surestream Company
last year to conduct an
Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) on the lake
which is believed to have oil
and gas in abundance.
Basing her argument on a
common international law
which stipulates that when
two countries are separated
by a body of water, the
border is at the middle of
that body, Tanzania claims
half of the lake belongs to
her as such Malawi cannot
explore oil on it.
And Malawians living in
Karonga and Chitipa, the two
border districts with
Tanzania, are getting
worried with their safety as
some are already planning to
flee following the war
remarks by Tanzania.
Tanzanias Minister of
Foreign Affairs Bernard
Membe this week told his
countrys Parliament in
Dodoma should Malawi not
stop its plans to explore oil
on the lake they will regard it
as an act of aggression.
No panic
But Malawis Minister of Home
Affairs and Internal Security,
Uladi Mussa, speaking to
Zodiak Broadcasting Station
(ZBS) on Tuesday asked the
people in the two districts to
remain calm assuring them
nothing would happen.
I should assure all the
people in this country to
remain calm. We are talking
to the Tanzanian
government and all will be
fine. If push comes to shove
we will take the matter to
International Court of
Justice, reported the radio.
The minister reaffirmed that
the entire lake belongs to
Malawi adding that
government has evidence to
prove its point.
Mussa further said
government will not stop
exploring oil on the lake as
demanded by Tanzania
saying they [Tanzanians]
have no powers to do so.
There is no issue here. We
all know the lake belongs to
us. In fact if such a claim
came from Mozambique at
least it would have made
sense to some extent but
not Tanzania. We have all
the evidence and treaties
are there to support that
Lake Malawi belongs to
Malawi, said the Home
Affairs Minister.
Malawi arguments
Malawi government argues
that the principle being
pursued by Tanzania- that
the border is along the
middle- only applies where
there is no treaty but in this
scenario the border was
clearly and specifically
defined in the 1890
Heligoland Treaty.
Germany and Britain, colonial
masters of Tanzania and
Malawi respectively, signed
the treaty after the issue- of
the border between the two
countries- was clearly
defined.
In addition, records show
that in 1963 Heads of State
of Organisation of African
Union (OAU) made a
resolution that member
states should recognize and
accept the borders that were
inherited at the time of
independence.
The leaders also made
similar resolutions in 2002
and 2007 during the African
Union (AU) summits.
However, Malawi
Governments decision to
extract gas and oil on Lake
Malawi has not only touched
on the raw nerves of the
Tanzanians but many
Malawians as well who have
argued that the
disadvantages of the project
far much outweigh the
benefits.
Malawi, a former British
colony, and Tanzania, once
ruled by Germany, are due to
hold showdown talks on the
disputed border in the
northern Malawian town of
Mzuzu on August 20.
Heart of Africa because of its
peace and tranquility but the
current diplomatic row with
her neighbour Tanzania has
created panic among its
people, particularly those
living along the two
countries border.
The fear has ensued
following media reports
quoting Tanzania authorities
that they were ready to go
to war with Malawi if the
country continues with its
plans to explore gas and oil
on Lake Malawi.
Malawi awarded a contract to
UKs Surestream Company
last year to conduct an
Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) on the lake
which is believed to have oil
and gas in abundance.
Basing her argument on a
common international law
which stipulates that when
two countries are separated
by a body of water, the
border is at the middle of
that body, Tanzania claims
half of the lake belongs to
her as such Malawi cannot
explore oil on it.
And Malawians living in
Karonga and Chitipa, the two
border districts with
Tanzania, are getting
worried with their safety as
some are already planning to
flee following the war
remarks by Tanzania.
Tanzanias Minister of
Foreign Affairs Bernard
Membe this week told his
countrys Parliament in
Dodoma should Malawi not
stop its plans to explore oil
on the lake they will regard it
as an act of aggression.
No panic
But Malawis Minister of Home
Affairs and Internal Security,
Uladi Mussa, speaking to
Zodiak Broadcasting Station
(ZBS) on Tuesday asked the
people in the two districts to
remain calm assuring them
nothing would happen.
I should assure all the
people in this country to
remain calm. We are talking
to the Tanzanian
government and all will be
fine. If push comes to shove
we will take the matter to
International Court of
Justice, reported the radio.
The minister reaffirmed that
the entire lake belongs to
Malawi adding that
government has evidence to
prove its point.
Mussa further said
government will not stop
exploring oil on the lake as
demanded by Tanzania
saying they [Tanzanians]
have no powers to do so.
There is no issue here. We
all know the lake belongs to
us. In fact if such a claim
came from Mozambique at
least it would have made
sense to some extent but
not Tanzania. We have all
the evidence and treaties
are there to support that
Lake Malawi belongs to
Malawi, said the Home
Affairs Minister.
Malawi arguments
Malawi government argues
that the principle being
pursued by Tanzania- that
the border is along the
middle- only applies where
there is no treaty but in this
scenario the border was
clearly and specifically
defined in the 1890
Heligoland Treaty.
Germany and Britain, colonial
masters of Tanzania and
Malawi respectively, signed
the treaty after the issue- of
the border between the two
countries- was clearly
defined.
In addition, records show
that in 1963 Heads of State
of Organisation of African
Union (OAU) made a
resolution that member
states should recognize and
accept the borders that were
inherited at the time of
independence.
The leaders also made
similar resolutions in 2002
and 2007 during the African
Union (AU) summits.
However, Malawi
Governments decision to
extract gas and oil on Lake
Malawi has not only touched
on the raw nerves of the
Tanzanians but many
Malawians as well who have
argued that the
disadvantages of the project
far much outweigh the
benefits.
Malawi, a former British
colony, and Tanzania, once
ruled by Germany, are due to
hold showdown talks on the
disputed border in the
northern Malawian town of
Mzuzu on August 20.
