By REX CHIKOKO in Blantyre | Tuesday, October 2
Malawi President Joyce Banda has pulled her country out of border discussions with Tanzania following what she said was Dar es Salaam's aggression and threats.
Malawi is now looking at taking the matter to international court, President Banda said. The two countries have been involved in a bitter wrangle for Lake Nyasa (also known as Lake Malawi) which is thought to have potential oil and gas deposits.
President Banda said she had ordered the Foreign Affairs ministry to officially call off the talks between the two countries following Tanzania's decision to launch a new map. She was speaking on arrival from the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday.
"When I was leaving the country for the UN I thought the issue with Tanzania was sorted out and that we are going to pursue dialogue.
"However [during] the period I have been away, Tanzania relaunched a new map, they are harrassing our fishermen and they are sailing boats in our lake.
"It is a serious matter now and we have to take it to the other level. Tanzania has threatened to blow up any Malawi boat that would sail on Lake Malawi," said President Banda.
The Malawian leader said she had discussed the matter with UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon informing him of her intention to take the issue to the International Court of Justice. (Read: Malawi banking on history in battle for Lake Malawi)
President Banda said that her Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete had in a SADC meeting in Mozambique assured her the matter would be resolved peacefully.
She was therefore surprised, she said, when President Kikwete in an address to Tanzanians accused Malawi of denying his citizens access to the lake.
"I was about to go to Tanzania to pay a courtesy call to President Kikwete but I have advised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to write them informing them of the pull out," she said.
AS I SAID BEFORE, THE ICJ IS THE BEST INSTITUTION TO HANDLE THE MATTER. HOWEVER, TANZANIA SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SEND COMPETENT LAWYERS TO REPRESENT THE COUNTRY INSTEAD OF THE USUAL UNCLES AND SHEMEJIS AND FRIENDS WITH NO LEGAL QUALIFICATION WHATSOEVER. WE WILL LOSE OUR LAKE MCHANA KABISAAA! WE ACHA TU
ReplyDeleteHuyu mama kuna anachokitaka.
ReplyDeleteNaona kichapo kinanukia. Hakuna mtu kwenda The Hague; kwani lazima. Mbona US hawatumii hiyo mahakama...mbona China na Japan hawajaenda The Hague...ni kuchapana tu ndio tushikishane adabu.
ReplyDeleteHaingii akilini hii leo eti mtu aseme Lake Nyasa ni la Malawi...niko tayari kuwa askari wa kujitolea kupigania ardhi yetu.
If Malawi government proceed with the pullout without even trying the dialogue, then they have failed to resolve the issue peacefully.
ReplyDeleteLet's remember that Malawi government is the one that initiated this issue with threats to Tanzanians. And we, Tanzania, have the right to protect its borders and its people when it is under threat.
Tanzania government should stand firm in its position to resolve this issue peacefully and let the Malawi government to come back to the table to bring their claims peacefully.
Hata wakienda Mahakama ya juu hawatapata.
ReplyDeleteKwa nini wanaihsupalia Tanzania peke yake wakati hili ziwa lipo hadi Msumbiji?
Mbona hawadai sehemu ya Msumbiji ya ziwa ni ya kwao kama ziwa lote ni la kwao?
Kama vipi tulikuwa na Mipango ya JKT kuirudisha nadhani ni wakati watualike sisi Wapigananji wa kujitolea tukaipiganie nchi!
MIMI NIPO TAYARI KUCHUKUA MAFUNZO, KUVAA MAGWANDA, KUBEBA BUNDUKI NA KWENDA VITANI!
Really! Tanzania threatening to blow up Malawi boats? absurd....an cantankerous!!!
ReplyDeleteNdugu zetu akina Luteni Mstaafu John Komba, na wengine huko Ukanda wa Ziwa Nyasa na Mbinga tutawabeba vipi kama ziwa litakuwa la Malawi?
ReplyDeleteNakumbuka wimbo wa Ndugu Komba wa Maombolezo ya Kifo cha Hayati Nyerere:
WIMBO WA 1:
(imba)Nyerere Julius Kambarage ametutoka,
(itikia)Ndugu yetu, mwenzetu Mwalimu Nyerere,
(imba)Tupo giza kiza kimetanda,
Kwa heri Nyerere,
(itikia)Tanzania yahuzunika
(itikia)Taifa Lahuzunika
(itikia)Pamoja Twasema ,kwa heri Nyerere
...MARA X 3
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TUKIFANYA MZAHA PANA UWEZEKANO TUTAHUZUNIKA TENA KWA ZIWA NYASA NA LUT. JOHN KOMBA KUIMBA WIMBO KUWA HIVI
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WIMBO WA 2:
(imba)Ziwa Nyasa Tanzania limetutoka,
(itikia)Ziwa letu, sehemu yetu Ziwa la Nyasa,
(imba)Tupo giza kiza kimetanda,
Kwa heri Ziwa letu Nyasa,
(itikia)Tanzania yahuzunika
(itikia)Taifa Lahuzunika
(itikia)Pamoja Twasema ,kwa heri Ziwa Nyasa
(imba)Samaki kwa sasa tutapata wapi?
(itikia) Mpaka Mkaombe Malawi
(imba) Maji ya kunywa jamani tutapata wapi?
(itikia) Mpaka tukaombe Malawi?
...MARA X 3
Mwanawane Watanzania WIMBO WA 1 tuliuimba kwa mapenzi ya Mwenyezi , JE WIMBO WA 2 TUTAWEZA KUUIMBA?