Malawi accuses Tanzania of being in breach of mediation agreement: Lake row

The Malawi government is condemning Tanzanian officials for making sentiments, which it says are in breach of the agreement of resolving the Lake Malawi boarder claim.

Tanzanian media quoted the country’s foreign affairs minister Benard Membe saying that the SADC former Heads of State Forum will decide ownership of the lake which will rest the case.

In reaction, Malawi’s Foreign Affairs Ephraim Chiume said what Membe said is a complete breach of the agreement the two parties made last year on 17th November held in Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania.

Speaking to journalist in Lilongwe, Chiume said the binding agreement which himself and Membe pended their signatures was that the two governments must give the mediation process a chance in an attempt to find a mutually agreeable solution.

Chiume: Tanzania are in breach of agreement, afterall the Lake Malawi belongs to Malawi
Chiume: Tanzania are in breach of agreement, afterall the Lake Malawi belongs to Malawi

The agreement states that the SADC Former Heads of State and Government Forum after thorough analysis of the issue will only make recommendations from their mediation efforts and not making a concrete decision on who owns the lake.

According to the agreement the recommendations will be submitted later this month to state President Joyce Banda and Tanzania president Jakaya Kikwete.

The agreement further stipulates that if both Malawi and Tanzania heads of state fails to agree to the recommendations from former heads of state then they may be at liberty to take the matter to the International Court of Justice for a legal binding decision.

In this regard, Chiume described Membe’s remarks as misleading to citizens of the two countries, who are keenly following the issue as and a breach of their binding agreement between the two governments.

The foreign Affairs minister also affirmed the government’s stand that the whole lake belongs to Malawi.

He said the authorities have opted for dialogue to portray that Malawi is a peaceful country, which strives to keep diplomatic means of co-existence with its neighbors.

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