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Malawi has asked United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to mediate in its Lake Malawi boundary dispute with Tanzania, a senior government minister has said.
"The Tanzanians want (the Southern Africa Development Community) SADC to mediate but we have asked the United Nations Secretary General to mediate," said Malawi Foreign Affairs Minister Ephraim Mganda Chiume.
Chiume, who led a team of Malawian government officials on a tour of the border district of Karonga Thursday where he assured residents of government protection following the simmering tensions, said the border wrangle "will be well handled".
He said Malawi has not given up hope that an amicable solution would be found.
To show solidarity with the Tanzanians the Malawi government delegation went as far as Kiyera inside Tanzania where District Commissioner Margareta Esther Malenga also assured the Malawi delegation of a peaceful settlement.
"We went to Kiyera to demonstrate that there was no cause for panic," he said.
Meanwhile, Tanzania's High Commissioner to Malawi, Patrick Tsere, said the lake still belongs to Malawi and Tanzania until the border dispute between them is resolved. Tsere noted that the water body's resources are accessed by both Malawians and Tanzanians.
"In fact, our rough estimates reveal that over 600,000 Tanzanians benefit from resources from Lake Malawi. Therefore, there is no way Malawi and Tanzania will go to war on this matter because Tanzanians love Malawi and likewise, we strongly believe that Malawians also love Tanzania," he said.
"To this effect we are therefore, still ready for talks with our Malawian counterparts to resolve the matter."
Malawi asks U.N. Chief to mediate in Tanzania border tussle - Newstime Africa
"The Tanzanians want (the Southern Africa Development Community) SADC to mediate but we have asked the United Nations Secretary General to mediate," said Malawi Foreign Affairs Minister Ephraim Mganda Chiume.
Chiume, who led a team of Malawian government officials on a tour of the border district of Karonga Thursday where he assured residents of government protection following the simmering tensions, said the border wrangle "will be well handled".
He said Malawi has not given up hope that an amicable solution would be found.
To show solidarity with the Tanzanians the Malawi government delegation went as far as Kiyera inside Tanzania where District Commissioner Margareta Esther Malenga also assured the Malawi delegation of a peaceful settlement.
"We went to Kiyera to demonstrate that there was no cause for panic," he said.
Meanwhile, Tanzania's High Commissioner to Malawi, Patrick Tsere, said the lake still belongs to Malawi and Tanzania until the border dispute between them is resolved. Tsere noted that the water body's resources are accessed by both Malawians and Tanzanians.
"In fact, our rough estimates reveal that over 600,000 Tanzanians benefit from resources from Lake Malawi. Therefore, there is no way Malawi and Tanzania will go to war on this matter because Tanzanians love Malawi and likewise, we strongly believe that Malawians also love Tanzania," he said.
"To this effect we are therefore, still ready for talks with our Malawian counterparts to resolve the matter."
Malawi asks U.N. Chief to mediate in Tanzania border tussle - Newstime Africa
