As Malawi hopes to elect its ‘Magufuli’, Tanzania President sets for two-day official tour
Tanzanian President John Magufuli will pay a two-day State visit to Malawi from April 24 to 25 ahead of the watershed Tripartite Elections in the southern African nation where the East African leader is revered for his anti-corruption measures and the slashing of unnecessary public expenses.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in Lilongwe in a statement that tough talking Tanzanian leader – popular in Makawi – is set to hold crucial talks with President Peter Mutharika and is set to open the w019 tobacco market season at LilongweAuction Floors.
This will be Magafuli’s first visit to Malawi since he was elected president and it is expected that the Lake Malawi boundary wrangle with its north-eastern neighbour, Tanzania will form part of the talks with his host.
It is a well-known fact that Tanzania wants half of the eastern part of the lake because of the oil exploration activities underway in the lake.
In the lake border dispute, Malawi asserts full ownership of the lake, except the south-eastern stretch in Mozambique whereas Tanzania is claiming the north-eastern half as its own.
Malawi bases its argument on a July 1 1890 treaty between Germany and Britain that maps the boundary between the two countries along the Tanzania shores.
On the other hand, Tanzania is invoking the 1982 United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea that stipulates that in cases where nations are separated by water bodies, the boundary lies in the middle of the water source.
But besides the lake dispute, Magufuli has good popular rating in Malawi and that most people prefer the country which is going to polls on May 21 2019, elect its own Magufuli among the seven presidential contenders.
Commentators say “Malawi needs a John Magufuli” to carry out a relentless campaign against corruption both within and without government.
“A Magufuli-like leader is what Malawi needs to turnaround its misfortunes and get on the path to economic growth and prosperity. Business as usual approaches by our leaders won’t bring the change Malawi needs to transform itself into a self-reliant country with a motivated and optimistic citizenship,” columnist Thom Khanje is in recird to have wrote in Daily Times newspaper.
When he was elected as Tanzania’s fifth president, Magufuli did not bring continuity, but dramatic change. He launchef audit of the public payroll led to a purge of “ghost workers” and has genuinely waging war on corruption in the Tanzanian state.
However, some critics say Magufuli is not just waging war on corruption – he is also declaring war on democracy, the part that liberal Malawians would not admire him for.
His government has undermined judicial and parliamentary independence, implemented a partial ban on public rallies, harassed MPs, closure of online political space, and prosecuted critics under new defamation and sedition laws.
Together, these constitute major infringements on the freedom of expression and the opposition’s ability to communicate with voters.
Seven presidential candidates are crisscrossing the country to woo the 6.8 million people who registered as voters in the May 21 elections.
But the front runners are DPP’s Peter Mutharika, Lazarus Chakwera who is standing on an MCP ticket, Saulos Chilima of UTM and Atupele Muluzi, who is standing on a UDF ticket.
Other pretenders are to John Chisi of Umodzi Party, Peter Kuwani of MMD and Reverend Kaliya, an independent candidate.
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Guys, remember we are blood relatives, (Nyasa’s and Nyakyusa/Ngonde whether TZ or Malawi are the same), but this had no meaning to Germans and Britons in the face of economic/political gains, we should not be part of old dirty game
The 1890 Germany British deal was Nyasaland gave Mbeya district to Tanzania & the border goes along Lake Nyasa shore unlike Mozambique border which used international water body law maybe we shud reclaim our Mbeya.
Colonial mindset is what kills African Nations to grow, how can someone write that Magufuli has barned online platform while he is using the same to write about Magufuli?? Do you know how many online TVs,blogs, newspapers, radio stations and TVs registered in Tanzania?? Can you even mention one person in prison on tje grounda of critics toward the government??? Dear brothers let me tell one thing, Tanzania has moved a step ahead of doing her things on the basisi of what colonisers says and wants. Tanzanians majority knows what we want, and have discovered the path to our destiny,… Read more »
Anthu oseowa cocita okonda kukolola posalima ndio amangofuna kuberapo ndalama kuzuza anthu a mmidzimu omwe safuna stress. Nyanja isiyeni cifukwa mlungu siopusa kuiika mmene ililipa. Atha kumusonyezani ukulu wake anthu nkumati yationetsa malodza.
Magufuli looking stress free with a genuine smile.
Enanu sitinakuoneni mano. No smile olo , anta kusekelerako ma emplyer anu than threatening kuti muzyatinyenyanyenya komaso kitigenda ndi ci block, cibuma.eeeeeeeeeed amatelo?????????
Mukusowa zochemelera. “Magufuli type of leadership” ndiye kuti chani?
On the lake issue, we as Malawians need to sober up and see that Tanzania side , there are people , resorts and beaches which were there during the time immemorial and waking up today telling them never to use them its something unexplainable. Let’s accept them to use the water but the demarcation must not be on the middle . Why did we accept to share with Mozambique? Who gave Mozambique part of the lake? We need to sober up.
Amalume your reasoning is more than genuine I keep on wondering how one can explain to our bros/srs Tanzanians the other side of our lake not to touch the Waters which they have used for thousand years. I think thus inhuman. It is not our Culture as Africans. Let the boundary be the middle of the lake. Leave alone the thoughts of the Germans and the Whites. They are not Africans. Let’s refer back to our Ancestors how they both used Lake Malawi/ Lake Nyasa in Tanzania. I hope am clear just like Amalume up there.
For the lake it’s true half of the northern part belongs to Tanzania whether we need or not⛪.Understand that the lake is for Nyasa people which means dwellers of coast land ,users of that water🏖🏖.These are the owners not Dodoma and Lilongwe people.It is a resource that has been there and would be there forever.People, animals and plants will just use during their life time too.and go while this would be there.who can claim Songwe River to hers?
Malawian it is better to have humanitarian than what you think
Pathetic and myopic