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NEWS
Fishermen in Lake Malawi have been caught in the middle of the border dispute. Photo/Ding Haitao Xinhua
By ROSEMARY MIRONDO Special Correspondent
Posted Saturday, October 6 2012 at 18:20
IN SUMMARY
- Malawi accuses Tanzania of treating it in a way "that creates discomfort and distancing" in its letter lodging a diplomatic protest.
- The newly published map, which shows the boundaries of the country's newly created regions, has reignited the ongoing dispute over the lake's boundaries.
- Tanzania on its part says that the maps had nothing to do with the current ongoing negotiations between the two countries.
Malawi accuses Tanzania of treating it in a way "that creates discomfort and distancing" in its letter lodging a diplomatic protest.
However, the letter also expresses optimism that the dispute will not degenerate into a full-blown diplomatic crisis.
The letter was given to Tanzania's ambassador to Malawi, Adadi Rajabu, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Malawi.
Looking for a solution
Malawi's Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Ephraim Mganda Chiume, would not comment on the letter, only saying discussions between the two countries were ongoing, and his country hoped to reach an amicable solution to the dispute.
The newly published map, which shows the boundaries of the country's newly created regions, has reignited the ongoing dispute over the lake's boundaries.
Tanzania's Deputy Minister for Foreign and International Co-operation, Mahadhi Juma Maalim, told The EastAfrican that the maps had nothing to do with the current ongoing negotiations between the two countries.
Mr Maalim said Tanzania had released the maps because new regions and districts had been created and it was therefore necessary to show the boundaries.
"There was no way we could have avoided including Lake Nyasa (Malawi) on the map," said Mr Maalim.
He said the boundary in Lake Nyasa had not been changed at all, as was being implied.
"Our stand is that we should go back to the negotiating table as earlier agreed so that we can reach a consensus and agree on which country deserves what," said Mr Maalim, who confirmed that Tanzania had received the protest note.
He added that Tanzania was still planning to go for talks on the matter, slated for this week.
But, should they fail to reach a consensus, Tanzania will then take the matter to the International Court of Justice "to get a fair hearing."
Malawi also protested against the arrest of its nationals who were fishing in the lake. But Tanzanian security officials said the fishermen were arrested for using prohibited fishing gear and methods.
The security officials said the the equipment was disposed of and the fishermen released.
There have been reports that Malawi has pulled out of talks to resolve the border conflict with Tanzania.
Ongoing negotiations
However, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs John Haule told The EastAfrican that the talks were scheduled to take place from October 7 to October 10 in Dar es Salaam.
"There is no quick fix for the border dispute and there will be no shortcuts. Malawi and Tanzania have agreed to continue the negotiations until the matter is resolved," said Mr Haule.
Malawi claims it owns the whole of Lake Nyasa/Malawi on the basis of an 1890 treaty between former colonial powers Britain and Germany, which, it says, was later reaffirmed by the Organisation of African Unity when the country gained independence in the early 1960s.
But earlier this month President Jakaya Kikwete said the Anglo-Germany Treaty that gave Malawi sole ownership of the lake was flawed and Tanzania had every reason to demand a review.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2012
WAZIRI MEMBE AZUNGUMZA NA WAANDISHI WA HABARI KUHUSU MGOGORO WA MPAKA KATIKA ZIWA NYASA
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| Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Mhe. Bernard K. Membe (Mb.) (katikati) akifafanua kwa Waandishi wa Habari (hawapo pichani) kuhusu hoja zilizotolewa na Serikali ya Malawi za kujitoa katika mazungumzo kuhusu mgogoro uliopo kati ya Tanzania na Malawi kuhusu Ziwa Nyasa. Wengine katika picha kulia ni Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Bw. John M. Haule na Mkurugenzi wa Kitengo cha Sheria, Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Balozi Irene Kasyanju. |
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| Baadhi ya Waandishi wa Habari kutoka Vyombo na Mashirika mbalimbali ya Habari hapa nchini wakimsiliza kwa makini Mhe. Waziri Membe. |
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| Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikino wa Kimataifa, Bw. John M. Haule (aliyesimama) wakati akimkaribisha Mhe. Waziri Membe kuzungumza na Waandishi wa Habari (hawapo pichani). |
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| Mmoja wa Wanahabari Bw. Florian Kaijage akiuliza swali wakati wa mkutano wao na Mhe. Waziri Membe. |
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| Mhe. Waziri Membe (waliokaa kushoto) akionesha kwa Waandishi wa Habari Ramani mpya ya Tanzania. Wengine katika picha (aliyekaa kulia) ni Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Bw. John M. Haule akifuatiwa na Mkurugenzi wa Upimaji na Ramani wa Wizara ya Ardhi, Nyumba na Maendeleo ya Makazi, Dkt. Selasie Mayunga na Mkurugenzi wa Kitengo cha Sheria hapa Wizarani Balozi Irene Kasyanju. |
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| Mhe. Waziri Membe akifafanua kwa Waandishi wa Habari kuwa mpaka katika ramani ya Tanzania umepita katikati ya Ziwa Nyasa na si ufukweni kama inavyodaiwa na Malawi. |
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| Wageni waalikwa na baadhi ya waandishi wakimsikiliza Mhe. Waziri Membe. Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Mhe. Bernard K. Membe (Mb) amewambia waandishi wa habari kuwa Malawi haiwezi kuipeleka Tanzania katika Mahakama ya Kimataifa ya Haki (ICJ) ili iamue mgogoro wa mpaka kwenye Ziwa Nyasa unaozozaniwa baina ya nchi hizi mbili. Mhe. Membe alibainisha hayo mbele ya Waandishi wa Habari jijini Dar es Slaam siku ya Jumamosi tarehe 06 Oktoba, 2012. "Tanzania ni mjumbe wa ICJ lakini bado haijatambua Mamlaka ya Mahakama hiyo, hivyo Malawi haiwezi kuipeleka Tanzania ICJ isipokuwa Tanzania inaweza kuipeleka Malawi", alisema Mhe. Membe. Mhe. Waziri aliitolea wito Malawi irudi katika meza ya majadiliano na kuiomba Serikali ya nchi hiyo kutuma wawakilishi katika kikao walichokubaliana kufanyika Dar es Salaam kuanzia tarehe 07 - 10 Oktoba, 2012. Kikao hicho kinakusudia kupendekeza msuluhishi ambaye atakubalika na pande zote baada ya kubainika kuwa Tanzania na Malawi zenyewe hazitaweza kusuluhisha mzozo huo. Mhe. Waziri aliwafahamisha waandishi kuwa alipokea kwa mshtuko taarifa kwamba Malawi haitashiriki katika kikao kilichopangwa kufanyika Dar es Salaam kwa hoja kuwa lazima Serikali ya Tanzania itoe maelezo ya kina kuhusu boti ya kijeshi iliyoonekana kufanya doria kwenye Ziwa Nyasa ambayo inasemekana kuwaletea hofu kubwa wakazi wa maeneo ya Ziwa kwa upande wa Malawi. Aidha, Malawi inataka kupatiwa maelezo kuhusu toleo jipya la Ramani ya Tanzania lililotolewa na Mamlaka za Tanzania ambayo inaonyesha mpaka baina ya nchi hizo mbili umepita katikati ya Ziwa Nyasa. Akitolea ufafanuzi masuala hayo, Mhe. Membe alisema kuwa toleo hilo jipya lilikuwa na lengo la kuionyesha Mikoa mipya minne na Wilaya mpya 19 katika ramani ya nchi, na kuonyesha mpaka kupita katikati ya Ziwa, hilo si jambo jipya kwani ndivyo ramani ya nchi yetu ilivyokuwa katika matoleo yote manne yaliyotolewa na Serikali kabla na baada ya uhuru. Kuhusu boti ya kijeshi kufanya doria kwenye Ziwa Nyasa, Mhe. Waziri alisema taarifa hizo sio sahihi, ila kinachofanyika ni doria ya kawaida ambayo inaendeshwa na Wizara ya Maendeleo ya Mifugo na Uvuvi kuwasaka wavuvi haramu na wale wanaotumia zana za uvuvi zilizopigwa marufuku. Mhe. Waziri aliwahakikishia wananchi kuwa Serikali ya Tanzania inapenda kuona mgogoro huo unamalizika katika kipindi cha Serikali ya Awamu ya Nne inayongozwa na Mhe. Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete na kitendo cha Malawi kutishia kugomea majadiliano hakitarudisha nyuma dhamira ya Serikali. Alisema Serikali imejipanga vyema kuhakikisha kuwa inakuwa na hoja za kisayansi na kisheria ili ishinde katika mgogoro huo. Moja ya mikakati ya Serikali imeunda Kamati tatu ambazo zimeshaanza kazi na kazi yao inaendelea vizuri. Kamati hizo moja inahusika na utafutaji wa nyaraka kuhusu Ziwa Nyasa, ya pili inahusika na masuala ya kisheria na ya tatu inahusika na masuala ya majadiliano. Alidokeza kuwa katika kufuatilia kesi zilizohukumiwa na ICJ hakuna nchi iliyodai umiliki wa ziwa lote au mto uliopo mpakani baina ya nchi mbili ilishinda kesi. Hivyo, aliwataka Watanzania wasiwe na wasiwasi kwani Serikali yao itaibuka mshindi katika mgogoro huo. Alihitimisha mazungumzo yake kwa kuwataka Wananchi wanaoishi kando ya Ziwa Nyasa kufanya shughuli zao kama kawaida pasi na kuhofia chochote kwani hakuna tishio la vita kabisa baina ya Tanzania na Malawi. |
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2012 ~ COPYRIGHT: MICHUZI BLOG
