Mutharika, Magufuli fail to discuss Lake Malawi wrangle: ‘Lost opportunity’
Tanzania president John Magufuli flies out of Malawi this Thursday having failed to discuss Lake Malawi wrangle with President Peter Mutharika on his two-day State-visit.
Political analysts and commentators are describing this as a lost opportunity.
Tanzania and Malawi on Wednesday discussed and signed a wide range of issues including trade and culture but avoided the issue of the lake which nearly brought the two neighbouring countries into war five years ago.
Principal secretary in the ministry of Foreign Affairs Ben Botolo said the issue of Lake Malawi was not on the table.
However, he could not be drawn to give the reasons why the two leaders will not discuss this important issue.
But political analyst George Phiri said this was a a lost opportunity
“We should realise that we, Africans should not be influenced by foreign external forces on the issue of the lake. Malawi and Tanzania are the best to solve the issue themselves,” he said.
He said it was a lost opportunity that Mutharika and Magufuli swept the issue under the carpet during their bilateral discussions.
Magufuli jetted in on Wednesday morning amid very tight security as some feeder roads were closed.
The two leaders held talks where they discussed a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues and agreed to further deepen the bilateral relationship and cooperation in various areas including transport, communication, tourism, culture, investment and social affairs.
They also agreed to boost trade ties between the two countries and committed to implement the decisions that were reached during the 4th Session of the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC) that was held from 3rd – 5th February, 2017 in Lilongwe, Malawi.
“’The two Heads of State agreed to commence the construction of the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) at the Songwe- Kasumulu border post with immediate effect,” reads part of the communique issued at the end of the talks.
During the meeting the two leaders also witnessed the signing of two bilateral instruments in the transport and culture sectors namely, Bilateral Road Transport Agreement, and Memorandum of Understanding in Culture, Arts and Sports that will see accelerated efforts in the development of Mtwara corridor.
Magufuli returns to Tanzania Thursday after opening the tobacco marketing season at Lilongwe Auction Floors.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
I think this is a wise decision by both presidentsides.
Imagine they discussed but did not concluded have a way forward to meet but Muthalika loses the election and leaves government with his team? It could have been a waste
Chibwibwi chimenechi pitala sangayime ndi magufuli. Magufulitu ndi a Munaaa. His country first. Awa angakambe chani? Olo ikanapangidwa table nkhaniyi awa amadziwa history ya Malawi awa sangatiyimilile antaaaa
KuMalawi mbuli ziriko sa mutu wouma ngati konkile. Kumanyoza anthu akawo ndi chri chonse ndikumaona anthu osatha chizungu bola ngati ali akunja ndi kawawa. Kusukulu sikunakuthandizetu iwe
we all know that the lake belong to Malawi what discussion do you want?
What’s there to discuss about the lake?
Magufuli cant discuss such an issue with an outgoing President, he is waiting for a new leader after the election.
Unya uona ndi chipani chako cha ngóna chopanda nzerucho according to statements at the opening of the Tobacco Marketing 2019.
no need for discussion, Magufuli came to chat with his fellow president.
There is nothing to discuss about the lake, discussions failed already. There are more things to discuss with Tanzania other than the lake wrangle. Amalawi kukonda controversial issues when our economy is in tatters.
Why would failure to discuss border issue be termed a disaster? This border issue cannot be successfully sorted without the British and the Germans who initially demarcated the border.
Those are very sensitive issues, you don’t just bring in such a topic without considering the purpose of his visit. Atolakhani kumalawi, that’s why last time mukanena kuti lake documents akusowa, kuyalusa dziko lanu.
George Phiri, you over-value your analyses. Was the issue about the lake on the agenda when the state visit was planned? Does this issue not require a special plan? It is like you and your wife miss each other for the whole day because you were at work. Would you, as soo as you enter the house in front of your own children turn libidous, start undressing want to have sex with her on the spot? I am sure your behavior is more rational than tambala wakuda.