Lake Malawi now negotiable on resource sharing: Tanzania and Malawi

March 29, 2015 Nyasa Times Reporter 123 Comments

Mediators in the ownership wrangle of Lake Malawi have proposed a resource-sharing agreement between Malawi and Tanzania governments.

Chaponda: We will find out from the meeting
Chaponda: We will find out from the meeting

The two countries will discuss the proposal as the mediators believe that economic integration is the solution on the matter.

The move was proposed by the two former heads of state meditating the dispute, former Mozambican president Joaquim Chisano and former South African president Thabo Mbeki during the last African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Malawi’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister George Chaponda confirmed the development but said the decision does not mean government has changed its stance on ownership of the lake.

He said Malawi and Tanzania technocrats have been told to “do their homework on the issue and come
up with a way forward.”

Chaponda said the stand of President Peter Mutharika is that Lake Malawi is “non negotiable” but government need to “find out if Tanzania has abandoned their claim to the Lake.”

He said Malawi will seek clarification during the yet to be scheduled meeting of the technocrats.

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123 replies on “Lake Malawi now negotiable on resource sharing: Tanzania and Malawi”

  2. There is no way the whole northern lake Malawi can belong to Malawi alone. No country in the world with a trans-boundary resource has the resource all by itself. It appears Malawi has to be taught a lesson of sharing resources with others without greed. If Malawi insists on greed, then the border between TZ and MW will be made to shift from Songwe to Jenda i.e. the whole northern Malawi will be annexed to TZ and northern Malawians are ready to side with TZ on this move.

  3. Nyanja ndi ya a Malawi osati taifas. if they want to use it, they have to seek permission from us in formal communication. Otherise APM should not allow such negociatins in favour of taifas sharing resources with us.

  5. It is only human beigns who talk of boundaries because of self. The acqua creatures in the lake do not have any limit to enjoy the natural resources in the lake.
    How I wish we comply to nature!!

  6. By no means, Malawi will bar Tz to share the lake. It is only wisdom of our leaders will sort out this problem. Although Tanzania has a massive land including big lakes in Africa, if the allow Malawi to a tune of 100% ownership of the lake then they have to request to use water of the lake from Malawi which is next to impossible.

    Population in Manda or Mbamba bay for example their main source of livelihood is lake, how can you restrict such a population from accessing the lake?

  7. @ 13 John – Nyasatimes does not prohibit writing/commenting in vernacular. Please spare us the bad English next time by expressing your views in Yao or Lomwe because it seems you are either from these two tribes. Sukulu za Kwacha zilipo you can enroll to start writing better English.

  8. why sharing of resources when the lake is entirely Malawian? Does Tanzania not have its own resources? Sitiimva, the resources on Lake Malawi belong to Malawians, period. Mapeto ake Mozambique will also want to share resources. Ife tikupanga benefit ku ma resources a TZ?

  9. this shows that the taifas are greedy.malawi is a small country aready.tanzania is a very big country as compared to malawi but you still want to rob from us our only lake.learn to love others you taifas.

  10. Comment…PETER DO NOT ACCEPT THAT. THE LAKE BELONGS TO MALAWIANS THAT IS WHY IT IS CALLED LAKE MALAWI. WE ARE READY TO DIE FOR IT.

  11. I thought Malawians were meant to believe that some people will handle this issue with hard heart? This is the time to show your leadership strength against that weak clueless leadership we had.

  14. I used to sit in the meetings as delegations of both countries were discussing the same with chisano, mbeke and festus as mediators, but the direction of the talks was not as we hear it now. What has gone wrong, Dr Chaponda?

  16. Are the mediators in the Malawi-Tanzania issue making any references to the Kasikiri Island dispute between Botswana and Namibia?

  17. Comment.dadaboma, bundle of contrudiction, nkhani ndi ya nyanja iwe ukukamba zako, wasuta chani? Any way chasala apa ndi kuthirana machaka basi ndipo zikuchedwa

  18. mufuna nyanja yanu isalandidwe voterani dpp ndipo tinavoterad pano sakutpanga update ali ali ziii bola ena aja timamva kvti zilipat…

  19. CommentJust try ur evil intention to seceed. U will see what defeated drc insurgence. No matter how long skirmishes may last we won’t relent. I hop good sense will prevail.

  21. Half of the northern Lake Malawi/Nyasa belongs to TZ. This is the internationally accepted way of sharing trans-boundary water bodies, including rivers and lakes. If Malawi govt insists on greed then we northern Malawians will help TZ annex the whole northern Malawi to become part of TZ. Malawi is dominated by greedy people who want everything for themselves. We in the north have complained about the discriminatory quota system and the need for federal govt or rotational presidency for long time, but this Lilongwe govt pretends not hear us. We look at TZ as our rescue, and the plan is underway to have northern Malawi annexed to TZ. This will have advantages for us in the north. There is no quota system in TZ – if you work hard in class or at work you get the rewards on merit. There is federal govt in TZ and we want to become part of a civilized (not repressive) governance system. TZ does not vote on tribal lines, so a northern Malawian (to become southern TZ) has a chance to become a country’s president. So TZ should feel free to lay claim over the northern half of this lake Nyasa, and the northern Malawians will give it total support and, if need be, fight with TZ against Malawi govt to dismantle greed.

    1. Kodi region imene ili ndi anthu omphunzira ambiri ndi it I? Which has most employed people in Malawi? Which region has most corrupt working people? Which region has most corrupt working people all the answers refer to the northerners. You have failed Malawi because all the time you try to distract people in terms of development by diverting issue of great interest with you regional selfish motives. If you want to go, go to the Tanzania you will need other part.

    2. Dadaboma, ask Nyakusya^s of Tz if they have any chance of laying their hands on the presidency. I have been in Tz and Nyakyusa’s who are viewed like Tumbuka’s are always whispered against in that country.

  23. Why did we accept their maize? And also our national football team went there to play with them why? If people are ready to die for their land what about our water? Water is Life.

  24. Listen you Malawians and Tanzanians! Lake Nyasa/Malawi belongs to both countries and it should be used by both countries as some intelligent Africans have suggested. You Africans when will you wake up and realise that the lake is for all Africans who live around it. Take a look at lake Victoria for that matter, three countries share the lake without greed. I personally do not believe that Tanzanians are willing to enter into a killing spree with our Malawians brothers and sisters. Wake up, open your eyes and look within! Are you prepared to go into war for the water that supports both lives?

  25. Comment the entire lake belongs to malawi no resource sharing we can only allow them to drink & bath

  26. Osayilola ngati mwalora tikuonani opandazelu kamaso osazidalila sitifuna kukhala amphawi eti kuopa tanzania

  27. In heart it belongs to us but practically anyone found on the shores either from Tanzania side, Mozambique side uses the lake to their advantage, we are owning it psychologically.

  28. nthawi yomwe ndinkavotela DPP ndinkaganiza kuti peter adzalimba ntima ndikutibweletsela nyanja yathu, tsono uloya uja ulupati pamenepa?

  29. This so stupid, how can you discuss nkhani yosayenera kukambirana ,by that it simply mean you are accepting their thoughts,kale loseli zimakanika bwanj kukambirana.work up Malawi Tanzania has no say over Lake Malawi.

  31. Kuyambira pachiyambi chilengedwere dziko lapansi,pamene I maonedwa nyanjayi ndi azungu aja, imkatchulidwa kuti nyasalandi lake, kufikira agogo aja amkalamurira muja.pano maulamuliro ambiri adutsa after kuzindikira kuti tili ndi resourceyi ndiye mkumanena kuti tigawane? Aaaah noooo! Uku mkufuna kuberana tikuona. Malawi uja wakale osazindikira anapita. Zonamizidwa takana. Palibe kugawana nyanja ndi aliyense pano pa malawi.

  33. LAKE IS BEING ALREADY SHARED BY THREE COUNTRIES MOZAMBIQUE. TANZANIA, AND MALAWI IN TERMS OF DRINKING WATER, FISHING, LAKE TRANSPORT,CARGO VESSSELS, FIELD WATER AND P/RECUE BOATS,N/M BOATS AND MANY OTHERS.BUT THINGS CAN CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

  34. Lake is called Lake Malawi not Lake Tanzania so it’s non negociable thus why we can’t share.wake up Malawians.

  35. If we agree to share the resources it means we have agreed to share the lake also! Look here, by resources it is not just the Oil in the lake, even the water is a resource so it means they can freely have their ship on our lake, they can fish from our lake and do anything they want! So accepting this is a no brainer and non starter!!! NOOOOO DEAL!!!

  36. Comment:Tanzania yadziwa liti ku nyanja tidulirane.Ndikukumbutseni timayitchura kuti Lake Malawi kuyimira aMalawi eni nyanja.Tisamatero ndale zake tingatembeleredwe mufuseni Mulungu mudzasiya masewera amenewa.Ok tiyeni nazo muona polekera.

  37. Lake Malawi belongs to Malawians. It is a possible way to send our troops to start regarding it as early as possible because if we delay will have no space. Do us act like the west on Kiev and let’s act like Moscow on Crimea. Chidodo ndi kuluza.

  41. It doesn’t make sense at all. How can there be resource sharing if both don’t have claim on it? It just means, the lake belongs to both countries, ridiculous..

  44. You don’t negotiate what is yours.The lake is entirely ours.We are not even ready to share a single drop.Leave our Lake Malawi alone.So you want to share a lake just because of some cheap relief maize that came from Tanzania some few days ago..Abwezereni tizichimanga tawo.Tizidya mbatatesi pano.Taifa yayamba kuzolowera.Kamuzu left them kyela and mbeya.What more are they looking then?

  45. Khani iyi aduna achaponda itumizeni Ku cout azungu ndiwomwe akudziwa chowonadi cha mutu wa khaniyi. Kuti nyanjayi ndiyathu amalawi palibenso zonyotsolerana,komanso athokoze kwambiri kuti bingu kulibe nyasi zomwe akulakhula akapolo amenewa sizikadachitika bwazi Pano atawathira utsi kalekale or akathawila kudzenje ukanawapeza komweko,choti mudziwe inu matanyika mukayamba zimenezi muluza mbali yayikulu kwaimbiri kaya mumatiwona kupusa sindikudziwa,mbeya ndiyathu songeya ndiyathunso pa history ya malawi kungoti malemu Dr H kamuzu banda sakafuna zokangana naye mwalimu Julius nyelele ineyo ndikukumbukira bwino-bwino mchaka ichi 1974 malemu Julie nyelele adayiyamba khani yimeneyi ya nyanja kuti timudulileko iye sanayiyambitse chifukwa chofuna mafuta nyanjayi ayi. iye anali ndikhuli yofuna chambo ndiye kamuzu adamuuza kuti khani ukuyiyambayi nyerele uluza zambiri iwe akatathauza chiani malemu kamuzu? anamuuzanso kuti usandilowe mkati kwambiri komwe unandiloko kunakwana ine sindine opusa ukapitiliza khani imeneyi tikayamba kumenyana komwe ineyo ndikudziwa kuti ndimbali yanga unandimbera ndikakulanda sindidzakupatsanso,mukafuna tape imeneyi im
    eneyi ineyo ndiri nayo,adatelo malemu kamuzu ndipo atamuuza zimnezi nyelele sanapitilize khaniyi anasiyira pomwepo.azungu ndiwomwe akudziwa chilungamo cha khaniyi zikomo,

  46. WE NEED TO HAVE A REFERENDUM ON WHETHER WE SHOULD SHARE THE LAKE RESOURCES WITH TZ RATHER THAN HAVE A FEW POLITICIANS DECIDE ON A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE LIKE THIS.

    MY TAKE HOWEVER IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO SHARING OF RESOURCES UNLESS TZ AGREES THAT WE ALSO HAVE A SHARE OF MBEYA, IRINGA, AND SONGEA RESOURCES.

  47. Commentkodi atanzania Yawa Ali nayo lake akuma itcha lake Tanzania kodi nthawi yonseyi anali kuti,tango pemphelani kwambili chauta azaku pasani nyanja yanu iyi ndi lake malawi

  49. Only fools and misguided elements would be convinced that lake nyasa belongs to Malawi.this lake was created by God the creator some billions of years ago before even the name malawi existed.what is happening to day in malawi is both misguided and bunking.the lake has been there is there and it will be there forever.Let us not sidelined and ignore the real problems we are facing in the country,such as the weakest economy globally due to institutionalized corruption and politically,we are expecting to live in a polarized nation which is also tribalistically divided.right now Tanzania is a home to two million people,more than half by far,are there illegally,but still Tanzanians regard them as their brothers and sisters.I would think that,the priority is to create lucid climate that would lure investors into the country which has 85 per cent of unemployment rate in Southern Africa.if Malawians think that there is oil in the lake,then you are living in the cocoon of self-deceit.Nigeria,is the fourth largest oil producing state in the world,but the overwhelming majority of the people,are living in dire poverty.leave the lake alone,it belongs to us all Africans.let me warn you,if the oil spill into the water,the water becomes contaminated and you might as well forget about your chambo or usipa wa magoloti.

    1. By your reasoning no country would claim to lands, waters or any other natural features within their territories as they were created by God. See, you seem to contradict yourself. The two million people, I assume you meant Malawians, living in TZ illegally would not be living there illegally as TZ never created those lands but God and therefore TZ had no claim to them.

  50. Hon Chaponda! I don’t get it? how can you share the resource if Tanzania does not own part of the Lake? why sharing the resource then. It other ways this means Tanzania also own the lake hence the decision of sharing the resource!!!

  52. A malawi basi tiluza nyanja what type of leaders do we have? They don’t think critically. They are not clever

  56. Please be reminded with sober minds that the Lake is a natural feature. THE Swahili have a full right over the eastern part of the waters while the Nyasas have their full control on the western water body. Dont be cheated by by political ideaologies. The Lake is commonly referred to as Lake Nyasa by both nations in the early times. The right boundary is the middle that never changes. Period.

    1. Do we have, as Malawians, rights to the various forests located on in Zambia on our western border? Do you know that Malawian fishermen are arrested when the stray into the Mozambican side of the lake whilst fishing?

  59. I think malawi now have “TWO BIGEST OPTIONS” to choose one yes they want to negotiate over the see but please malawians let us not to kick out ourselves from development because it seems to be a very simple decision by saying “we dont need to share” yes it’ll be a possitive response to the most of malawians but it will be bare concequence to the malawians.what i want to say is it is and it has been lake mw for how many year? and what profitable and development did malawi get.everything is about the development lets share this lake for us to be profitable.

  60. wakeup Malawians we sell ur lake 2 Tanganyika as its mandated that boarder is at the shore hope Kamuzu made mistake 2 allow Taifa 2 fish in Lake Malawi

  62. its called lake nyasa nt lake Tanganyika have sense Thabo Mbeki nd ur counterpant nomore political its ur lake nd we have freedom negotiation is out of table

  66. Jorogi, are you sure this is the same as ” the issue of the lake in non negotiable” when you say “the govt has not changed its stance”

  67. leave the lake alone. of this lake is drilled it will be contaminated by oil and then everyone loses. leave it alone

  70. A gvt of fools. The whole foreign affairs minister tells the nation some poorly baked rubish. No wonder u are busy writing yo names on police cells. And that asset declaration is the evidence of this idiocy only practiced by mutants

  72. My lake is gone! Shame on DPP govt for “battering” the lake just as JB battered the presidential jet with guns! My country is a cursed land…

  73. If Tanzania does not respect borders that were made by the colonial masters , then the border should be changed to Iringa because that is where the old boundary was.

  74. How do you accept to share the resources from the very lake whose ownership is not negotiable?

  75. this is interesting if not pathetic. Peter muthalika during campaign period said, ” when i become a president of this country, i will note tolerate any nonsense of discussing the issue of the lake with TZ coz the lake is ours”. & with that statement, we all xpectd something tangible koma hiii! za zii!
    Zimaphweka akamayendesa wina! kkkkkk

  77. I don’t see anything wrong with that. No man is an inland. No country is an inland. We don’t want war anymore. Is God who create the world not politicians. Thumb up

  80. If we share the lake (or resources of the lake which is the same to me) let TZ share some piece of land stretching to the sea so that we can access the sea!!

  83. Somebody wants a share on my garden then I agree that when I harvest maize I will share you my proceeds. Boma iloooooooooooo. Ukanakhala mtundu wina pakanamveka Chichewa china monga kusaganiza bwino

  84. At community level Malawi and Tanzania already share the resources ( small scale undertakings such fishing, swimming, recreation etc) at the lake. The issue is about ownership at state level. Ownership has implications. For instance, if Malawi wants to start oil drilling at any corner of the lake, should it (Malawi) be looking over its shoulders to see what Tanzania is gonna say? That’s is where it is critical to categorically make a point that Malawi owns the lake 100%. Any half truth statements or resolutions would have serious future consequences.

  85. It is Lake Malawi not Lake Tanzania
    Perhaps a solution can be any environmental impact the project on Lake Malawi will have on Tanzania Malawi will pay

  86. Comment: Though am a malawian by birth, l totally suport the idea of sharing the lake as we didi wth mozambique that now owns the surface waters that sorrounds Likoma and Chizumulo.

    l put the blame on our colonialists, the British, who in 1954 signed an agreement wth portuquise govnment, that lake malawi was shared on the middle, btwn TZ and MW.

    lt is this recent pact that tanzania is relying on and not the old Heligoland of 1890s that mandated malawi to own every drop of water in the lake.

    Tiyeni tiwagawileko anzathu. Zapadziko tizazisiya is.

    ff bb LY

    1. The British signed the agreement with the Germans and the Portuguise. How can the Taifas rely on the Mozambican. Agreement? Just go back to the economic exile.

    2. Tikati Amalawi ndiogona, example yake ndi anthu ngati Wagona Nkhule Waliwa. How can you share resources of something that is clearly yours

  87. ‘Government wants to find out if Tanzania has abandoned to the claim’
    As a minister this a surely weak point, just say that you have agreed to the resource sharing deal. Be straight because you are reporting to the nation.

  88. DPP government do NOT fool us. We are not as illiterate as you think. Tanzania has a share of Lakes Tanganyika and Lake Victoria. IF they want part of Lake Malawi ask them to give us access to the sea as well. How can we share our own resources with another country??

  89. Just share the lake as co-existing neighbors that have families on both sides of the border.Everywhere in the world water bodies are shared between countries including Oceans, the Great Lakes in North America,the Great Lakes in East Africa, Caspean sea, Black sea, Red sea, Mediterranean sea,Lake Albert, Lake Vitoria,river Danube,to name just a few.

    The problem is Malawians are spoiled with a selfish mentality which also has a breeding in corruption.It is common sense that the Lake has to be controlled by the three countries with a common understanding on resource sharing. This will accelerate Malawi’s development because the two countries to the east which are next to Indian Ocean will take Malawi as an equal partner in economic integration.Already Mozambique and Tanzania have a cooperation on exploitation of gas in the ocean and Mozambique wants to interconnect itself to the electricity grid from gas energy in Tanzania.That is what Africa needs not countries bickering on border existence.The British were wrong on the demarcation of the lake only to favor Malawi-it’s not about colonial ruling on the border existence but it’s about natural existence of water bodies between countries and how those countries’ people have used such waters in their lifetime.

    The best scenario here is to agree with Tanzania to share the lake, map the way forward regarding utilization of resources with the formation of a pact, develop industries together that conform to the oil, share technology and training of experts, and probably nationalize the oil industries of the two countries based on the model of UAE.This will accelerate Malawi’s transformation because the country won’t be isolated, just imagine even Mozambique is not happy about Malawi’s attitude.

    Having done this, Malawi will then have to negotiate with Tanzania to connect a railway line from Tanzania to Karonga with Malawi constructing a railway line from Karonga to Mzuzu and then Lilongwe.This will open up the north to the East African Community economic hub. It has always baffled my mind why Malawian leaders have only concentrated on transport network connecting the country to the south- east part of Africa instead opening up networks on both sides of the borders. Malawi can not develop if it has limited transport network, it needs connection to several corridors with different countries.The north has huge economic potential and needs a railway network too connecting it to ports in Tanzania.

    Kamuzu had his own reason for neglecting this initiative to open up the northern part to the east and therefore Malawi shouldn’t live like it is still in the era of that despot leader.Forget about road transportation to the east, that is just a light mode of transport and can not transform a country.Development partners I believe will be eager to support such an ambitious but important plan.

    2. @Byron, excellent analysis. In fact there was this Mtwala corridor proposal that never came to fruition. A railway from Tz to Chilumba port, Karonga opening up the East would be be goldmine. We have the right infrastructure at Chilumba….then the goods would be transported by water to Nkhatabay, Chipoka and Monkey Bay….where they can further be transported to the Centre and South by rail. Malawians are selfish by nature. Tz and Mozambique are developing at a much faster rate while we are watching, clueless! We can ride on their back and achieve something…koma kuba ndalama zaboma ndikumanga manyumba ngati mwawina tender! Shupiti zanu. Rotten to the core.

    3. Byron please wake up if you are indeed a Malawian. Open your eyes. The lake issue is no joking or dreaming matter. The rubbish you have put in this article is unbelievable. May be simply explains the under development of our country. It also explains the smallness of malawi territory. If it were the other way round, Tanzanians would not entertain any thought if sharing an inch of their territory. The tiny malawi is ready to give away 10 percent, what a shame? If our leaders have no brains to resolve this issue legally they should leave it to future generations. Malawi belongs to us and also to the yet to be borns. Let us not jeopardise their future.

  95. Mmmmm.Becareful when an African poor naked man offers you a shirt. We have sold the Lake with those few relief items. A non negotiable cheque has bounced. Hahahahahahaha!

  97. Are you battering the lake with the relief items? Please send back their relief items. We don’t need them.

    Lake Malawi is non-negotiable and Peter must uphold this position. Its not his lake. If in doubt, we can have a referendum on this.

  98. We can not re-shape the boarders of our post modern countries over a round table discussion. As far as am concerned, as a Malawian, this issue is non-negotiable unless its by means of taking up arms. May our representatives bear this weighty message across to Taifa land with due deligence.

  100. chaponda useless man now u have started agreeing about the lake sharing shaaa. U will selling ur lake by exchanging maize and druds then u will give them our beauty lake?

  101. WHY THAT LAKE NON AS LAKE MALAWI ,EXPLAIN 5-OR-10 LISSON OF SHARERING FUEL TO TANZANIA THINK TWISS BEFORE YOUR NEGOTIATION HOW LONG WE BEEN IN BUSH OF POVERTY SO KNOW GOD WONT US TO BE OUT ON POVERTY THEN YOU START SAY THAT WHY DONT YOU LIVE US ALONE OR WHY DONT YOU GIVE BRITISH CHANCE TO SOVIE THE MATTER IF WE SAY YES BECAUSE OF THERE MAIZE & DRUGS FOR THE FLOODS PEOPLE WERE IN TROUBLE .MALAWI WE SHOULD NOW KNOW THAT THIS TIME IS TIME FOR GLORY PLEASE DON,T ACCEPT ON THAT WE BETTER TO DIE WITH OUR ON LAND.DID OUR PRESIDENT ASKED TANZANIA ABOUT DONATION OR THEM DO ON THERE WILL PLS TELL US

  105. I smell a rat here…. a few days ago, Tanzania donated relief items to Mw, those items were brought (in) by army trucks, now the verdict !!…

  106. Don’t give Tanzania a part of our resources! Why benefiting from our resources while we don’t benefit from theirs?

  110. We were told during campaign period that DPP will ensure that our lake is not taken (whatever they meant)! Reading between the lines in this

  111. This is the “non-negotiable” aproach APM was talking about? Resource sharing? My foot!! Taifa assholes want to benefit from this steal,

  112. What is resource sharing if the issue is non negotiatable?which resources,from the same non negotiable lake?

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