Mutharika maintains Lake Malawi ownership non-negotiable:  ‘No war with Tanzania’

November 20, 2014 Green Muheya -Nyasa Times 111 Comments

Malawi President Peter Mutharika has maintained his position that  has said the  entire Lake Malawi, Tanzania calls Lake Nyasa,  which is potentially rich in oil and gas is owned  by Malawi, saying there is no need to negotiate the issue.

President Mutharika and Chissano during a meeting
President Mutharika and Chissano during a meeting
President Mutharika telling Chissano and Mogae that Lake Malawi not even an inc belongs to Tanzania
President Mutharika telling Chissano and Mogae that Lake Malawi not even an inc belongs to Tanzania

Mutharika – a  law professor who also taught law in Tanzania – told a meeting of former president of Mozambique Joaquim Chissano and former president of Botswana Festus Mogae, who are members of Forum of Former African Heads of State and Government mediating in the Lake Malawi border dispute with neighbouring Tanzania, that whole lake belongs to Malawi emphasizing that not even an inch belongs to Tanzania.

“My position has not changed,” said President Mutharika.

The two former leaders, who arrived in Malawi Wednesday, briefed  President Mutharika on the progress of mediation in the row.

Mutharika insisted that  the whole lake belongs to Malawi emphasizing that not even an inch belongs to Tanzania.

“I informed the two leaders that to us there is no conflict between Malawi and Tanzania. I have stated that the issue about Lake Malawi is not negotiable and my position has not changed,” said the Malawi President.

He however pointed out that the position does not mean Malawi is ready to go to war with Tanzania.

“Our case on this matter is very clear according to the Helgoland Treaty of 1896 and the OAU resolution of 1985,” said President Mutharika.

He added, “I am confident and hopeful with the efforts of the mediation team of Presidents Chissano, Mogae and Thabo Mbeki so far, to help resolving this issue.”

Mutharika assured the Forum of his personal and government’s commitment to return to discussions with “our neighbours for an amicable and peaceful resolution” of this matter which he said, is in the best interest of the two nations.

Tanzania claim to half the lake – Africa’s third biggest – but Malawi disputes.

Malawi government previously  hinted that if not resolved, it will got to International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Mutharika’s  legal opinion  also gives Malawi impetus to push the case to the ICJ if current mediation efforts by the Forum of Former Heads of State and Government fail.

Revered British judge Professor Rosalyn Higgins, QC,  former ICJ head  also gave a legal opinion which concludes that Malawi owns the entire lake.

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111 replies on “Mutharika maintains Lake Malawi ownership non-negotiable:  ‘No war with Tanzania’”

  1. The fact is Malawi Northerners and Tanzania southerners are blood brothers, in this case we will not allow any one/issue to severe our relationship due to the imaginary borderline which benefits non of us. Southerners stop talking on behalf of people of North Malawi who shares the lake with TZ

  6. President Peter Mutharika of Malawi is very right when he says the whole North of Lake Malawi belongs to his country. It is due to the fact that the boundaries of Tanganyika (now Tanzania) and Malawi were established by the Helgoland treaty of 1890 show the whole north of the Lake belongs to Malawi, and these are the boundaries the citizens of Tanganyika and Malawi inherited when they inherited the independence of self-rule from the colonialists who created Tanganyika and Malawi. Therefore, unless Tanzania proofs otherwise that the map of the Tanganyika which secured the independence of self-rule from colonialists’ shows that half of the North of the lake belongs to Tanganyika; Malawi will remain the owner of the whole North of Lake Malawi. It is the communities who share the shores of Lake Malawi on the Tanzanian side have a valid claim on half of the North of Lake Malawi they shared peacefully with their counterparts on the Malawian side throughout generations before the arrival of colonialists who created Tanganyika and Malawi. Communities who shared the shores of the Lake within Malawi, Tanganyika and Mozambique throughout generations before the arrival of the colonialist who created these countries are the true shareholders of the lake. Therefore, the Good thing Tanzania could do is to help the communities who share the shores of the lake on the Tanzanian side to claim for their right (through OAU and UN recognized International court) on their traditional share of the Lake they had throughout generations before the arrival of colonialists who created Tanganyika, Malawi and Mozambique. The International court will consider that the self rules granted to African communities within the countries of Tanganyika, Malawi and Mozambique based on the boundaries created in the Helgoland treaty of 1890 violate the traditional rights of communities of the Tanzanian side of Lake Malawi by denying them their share of the North of the lake they had been sharing with their counterparts on the Malawian side throughout generations before the arrival of colonialists who created Tanganyika, Malawi and Mozambique. It is only the International court could determine on the claim of communities on the Tanzanian side based on consideration that the granting of self rules to Tanganyika and Malawi should have made correction on the boundaries set by the Helgoland Treaty of 1890 to ensure communities on who share shores of the Lake Malawi on the Tanzanian side also get self-rule on their traditional share of the North of the lake they had shared with their counterparts on the Malawian throughout generations before Tanganyika, Malawi and Mozambique were created by Colonialists. The matter won’t solve through negotiations between Malawi and Tanzania because due to the fact that it not the communities of Malawi and Tanganyika created the boundaries of Tanganyika and Malawi.

  8. You malawi keep on dreaming!! we are going to destroy that village of africa called Malawi for only 1 hour.
    Mark my words, we have been enjoying that lake for a long time.
    You should just join Tanzania for good and your president can simply become MP.

  9. A nkhalapakati akutibwanji pamenepa popezatu ife tikatitakhwasula ndi chambosopano tidyanjichambo chathuchikatha kufa ndi mafutawo

  10. That’s y you guys from the north simudza patsidwa chance to govern Malawi cos of ur selfish wishes.look around you people.

  12. You Tanzanians when did u c that half of our lake Malawi belongs to you,?even Late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere , and your history books knows that Lake nyasa or Lake Malawi belongs to Malawi. To hell with your war .peace is our Malawian manifesto

  14. thanks Peter for not changing your mind what i can advise you is don’t do that for granted of your elder brother Dictator Bingu of kupopa mafuta munyanja palibe amene angapindule ndinu amene basi Kayelekera Urenium apindula anthu angati IFE OKHALA M’MBALI MWANYANJA YA MALAWI FROM NORTH TO SOUTH TIKUTI TAKANA KUPOPA MAFUTA MUNYANJA YANTHU YOKONGOLAYI TOTO AMENE NDI M’MALAWI WENWENI SANGAPANGE ZIMENE BINGU AMAFUNA KUPANGA ZIJA TISAUKA KOPOSA M’MENE TILLILI PANO ADZAPINDULE NDI AMENE AMAKHALA KUMAUDINDO NDIPO ALIPO ANGATI?..MUMATIKOPANSO CHONCHI PA ZA KAYELEKERA URANIUM KU KARONGA.PETER I WOULD LOVE YOU TO READ MY DIRTY COMMENT OF REAL MALAWIANS

  15. Keep fire burning mr man take cover , youwill be a life president , go Peter go.

  16. I come again,this is where we need our OWN Nsanje port.Coz this loosing battle of theirs will end up in frustration Malawian business fraternity that relies heavily on Tanzanias ports,MARK MY WORDS.

  20. Peter thanks very much for stand firm on our decision.Dont give up coz lake Malawi is the only resource what Malawian have.It is more shark to Taifas to start calling that we must share.Where were the taifa in time of kamudzu and Bakili and Bingu.The Tanzanian must not start us we are only can fight this fight.

  21. Dadaboma,take care of your fruitless words,those useless,regionalistic,& foolish words.THE PRESIDENT HAS AND ALREADY SAID,’ITS A NON NEGOTIABLE,& WE ALL SUPPORT THAT WISE SAYING.WHO ARE YOU TO TELL US THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TWO NATIONS?POYANKHULA,MUZIGANIZA KAWIRI OSATI ZACHIBWANA AYI.INTERNET TISAYESE CHONGOTSEWERETSAPO,KUMA KUMANGA MTUNDU,CHITUKUKO ,ZAUZIMU NDI ZINA ZA BWINO.

    1. TZ is not crazy to ask for negotiation. God did not create this lake to belong only to Malawians. There are international statutes that dictate how international water bodies can be shared by contiguous nations. I know that most Malawians are selfish, wanting everything to be theirs only. That’s why they can fill a whole secondary school in the north with only students from their regions and no student from the north selected to go to a school in their backyard. Unfortunately lake Malawi will have to be shared with TZ because they are also a riparian country on this lake. This is what the international legal obligations require. The possibility of North Malawi siding with TZ on this issue is a REAL (not imagined), considering the selfishness of most Malawians in the south. And you’re lucky, if you’re wise, that I’ve told you. The selfish always looses even the little he has. Believe me or not.

  22. Tiyeni timange umodzi ngati mayi modzi Malawi .tisalore nyanja yathu kuti tilandidwe dzuwa lili ng’a tikuona..

  23. We people of the North would like to join Tanzania as our next country if Malawi govt continues to hold tenaciously to policies that marginalize us such as quota system, and if they reject federal system so that we can sort out our problems ourselves. If we secede, it will be with the help of TZ and we shall be annexed to TZ. We have more to benefit by our annexation to TZ than to be segregated in Malawi. So the question of whether or not TZ owns part of Lake Nyasa (I now don’t even want to call this lake lake Malawi) will have to wait for the internal political setup here in Malawi. We have already talked with TZ govt on this and we’re so far very pleased with what is coming ahead. Malawi’s borders will be redrawn, and Malawi may own less than half of lake Nyasa. Russian annexation of Cremia is the model that will see TZ annexation of North Malawi. With this, TZ will be happy because it will get more of lake Nyasa than Malawi is currently willing to accept; North Malawi will also be very very happy; the remaining Malawi will also be happy because they hate Northern Malawians who will have been annexed to United Republic of TZ. TZ has promised to give North Malawi a federal status because this country (TZ) is already running a federal system. You can ask me the new borders if you want to know about how the new Tanzania and new Malawi will look in the very near future.

      1. You do not realize you’re selfish until the little you have is taken away from you. You want the whole lake Malawi to belong to you only? Just as you want a whole secondary school located in the north to belong only to non-northerners? That’s selfishness of the highest order. TZ will get what they want, and they have international legal obligations on their side. And the possibility of North Malawi siding with TZ is REAL, because there is more the north can gain from TZ than remaining part of the selfish Malawi.

  25. Malawian politics is full of shit. Remember Bingu’s Nsanje port, was frustrated by the same person who also approched the Tanzanians on Lake Malawi issue. God is not man,the laking bomb exploded when she was the head through backdoor.
    I really don’t understand when you the learned say she was a good leader when she was trying to frustrate things of national interest.
    Come on Malawians,let’s be PATRIOTIC like Zimbabweans.

  28. my chambo not even one chambo is for taifas…..let them swim in indian ocean lake tanganyika lake victoria not my lake malawi

  29. No. 9 sikudziwa chomwe umafuna kulankhula osasiyira anthu anzeru apereke fundo zotukulira dziko bwanji? Iwe anako umachita kukambirana ndi munthu kuti umutume? Ndiwe mbuli zedi ndipo maganizo akowo palibe chimene dziko lingapindule nawo. Muuze abiti wakoyo tikudziwa ndiamene akuuza maganizo opusawo mugagwereko uko!

  30. Asekulu A president pomlikuwilako kucharo chanzelu ndi chimenechi lake Malawi is for Malawian is not for Tanzania awa ndi agaru opanda nzeru

  31. Malawi is too British… look at that palace? if there is one think we learnt, it is how to project wealth we do not have

  32. Bravo! Asibweni a peter, you have shown your strength on this issue of lake. the problem with the Tanzania’s is not the lake, is the oil & gas we have discovered. this people they are stupid they have a lot of minerals talk of Tanzanite only forget about other minerals. Tanzanite is the only mineral in world found in Tanzania but the big seller & producer are Kenya South Africa & India, why don’t they claim for it that its therie’s. We are with u Asibweni, we will die for it.

  34. palibe kukambirana lake malawi belong to malawians not Tzians mukacita makani tikuthirani machaka. kuzolowera slave trade agalu amenewa

  35. The Issue of Lake Malawi is non negotiable indeed as our president has put it in very clear terms over and over again. If countries in Africa including Tanzania want this to be renegotiated then the whole boundaries in the countries have to be renegotiated especially for Tanzania where even our pieces of Land that extended to Mbeya, Iringa with pillars marked Nyasaland have to be renegotiated including some land in Mozambique and Zambia. Otherwise we have to renegotiate all the boundaries if some people especially in Tanzania cannot be satisfied with the vast land they have already. Greed can make things more complicated. Our message to the mediators is very clear, if the Lake Malawi boundary is negotiable then all previous boundaries are negotiable and Malawi can claim even more. Thumbs up to our president for setting the tone very clear.

  36. I kind of see that our president learnt a lot from our founder, Dr H Kamuzu Banda. If he goes on like this, I see Malawi regaining its former international status within a few years. Keep it up Mr President. This nation is behind you when it comes to that issue.

  38. Apa pokha ndiye ndife amodzi zoona. Apa Mr. President a DPP mwaonekapo a nzeru. pokhapa za Federism tasiya kaye mpaka nyanja mulande bwana. Koma chimodzi mwaiwala munawauza a Lomwe anzanu kuti mukadzangowina mudzakwera Doniya ulendo kukatenga nyanja, ndiye kaya pano maganizo amene aja ali pati? On this one we are behind you and no federism at this stage.

  40. Bravo Peter! You don’t negotiate owneship of something that is axiomatically, legally and clearly belong to you.

  42. I agree with the President on this issue, Tanzania don’t have shares on this lake. Akavuta kwambiri kungowatibula basi.

  46. I agree with the our president this people who they call themselves the Tanzanians they are silly ,and they must stop

  47. kumeneko ndiye kubwela!! kumuuza zowona munthu akamafuna kukulanda chinthu chako kuti AYI!!ndakaniza ndipo palibenso zokambilana pita ukayese kwina kulanda ena opusa! thumbs up mr president !!

  49. Do people look at the map, Tanzania land mass borders the lake just the top bit while Mozambique borders the rest. Malawi landmass borders the lake from the north up to the southern part. So where is this Tanzania claim half the lake comes from.

  50. This is the way to go by Mr President, don’t beat about the bush indeed NOT even an inch belonged Tanzania.
    Narutah,

  51. How does that help to control the rising inflation rate in one of the world’s eight poorest countries i.e. Malawi? How does the border issue prevent the Malawi Kwacha from further depreciation? How does the border issue help to make teachers’ salaries available in their bank accounts?

  56. That’s the type of president we want. Why should we compromise on our own asset? No negotiation NO! NO!!

  57. Good ideas.The lake belongs to Malawi not even an inch belongs to TZ. Tikawonana munyanja akapanga masewera.

  58. imwe nyanja ndi yathuyi iyi . a swahili kukonda kukangana bwanji. mwadziwa liti kuti part of the lake is yours kuba basi.

  59. This the leader not an activist as mayo used to be national matters are not personal there lake Malawi is ours and peter bravo teach them that u re a man and stand by our word

  62. What more can we ask from a leader? as a people we need such bold visionary leader who will stand to defend what belongs to him and his subjects! Keep the stand bwana President they have lake Tanganyika and bid ocean,ATISIYILE aka kanyanja

  64. Peter, you are intelligent , wise and above all courageous. Malawi needs a leader like you. It is too late Tanzania and Malawi cannot shift the border line now because Tanzania thinks the original border line is wrong as this would open a pandora box of border disputes in Africa

  66. We boast by saying the lake is rich in oil and gas. At the same time we dont want to extract the for fear of the unknown. Is there any sense? Tanzania wants those resources as well yet we the owners of the lake fear to extract them for fear of killing the almost extinct chambo. Is the chambo being depleted by oil? Future generations will lough at us to say why did these people remain poor when God gave them plenty but could not utilize them. They say they had Chambo did it die because of oil? We have plenty of water , fertile land, oil, gas, minerals, beautiful mountains etc. Poor Malawi, wake up!!! The resources are there for us to use. Disasters are accidents. We can find ways of avoiding them.

    1. Exactly, your comment touched my heart, you saved my money and time, you wrote what I was going to write, big up.

  74. Boma ilo, osataya nthawi kungomazungulira malo amodzi, nyanja ndi a malawi, no sharing of the lake even an inch. it belongs to Malwi gvt.

  77. One can now see the seriousness, in terms of intellectual thought and positioning, with which our new leaders are tackling this file. APM does lend much needed credence and gravitas to our case, to be sure. Unlike the previous regime.
    Two of these three “wise men” have personal and sentimental attachment to Tanzania, going back to the freedom fights for their respective countries. But (hopefully) that should not be a reason at all for them to “fear” irredentist Tanzania. These men now know, first hand, APM is a serious legal mind. And a perfunctory nod by them to Tanzania’s wish will not suffice.
    Gone are days of desultory approach of the previous government. Time for serious intellectual discussions. Osati zachibwana zija!

  79. Thats the type of presidents we need in Malawi.Where were they all these years kuti atilande lero nyanjayi????

  80. This is what Madam should have told them years ago. You can’t negotiate ownership of your own stomach. Total foolishness. This is the best news we have heard from the current DPP government. We will go to war for you if need be. I am sure all Malawians are behind you on this matter. God bless our leader.

    1. Damn it!!
      Do you really want war? you hold refugees status all over the world but you never been in the war yet, Dont ask for it ma man, U will go die like a cochroach!!

  81. Awa ndiye may amsogoleri palibe zoti tizikambilana apa, tikambilanapo chaninso, chisamo asatipusise ziko lake lili ndi Indian ocean, Limpopo river Zambezi, so what? Winayo Ali ndi diamond afuna atiuze Chani?

  82. Bravo bwana President APM lake malawi is Gd given to us,why are taifa’s bringing the issue after oil&gas prospects have emerged.Tanzania is rich in natural minerals,ports&tourism,hands off our lake,tiwanyenyanyenya akapanga zibwana,kangachepa nka nyama.

  83. Bravo Proffessor,thats the way to go.Kodi if you are sure that this shirt is really mine and someone is coming in and claims that it belongs to him;do you need to negotiate,si mmesa ndiwakuba ameneyu?

  84. We are not surrendering an inch of the lake & Tanzanians should not be greedy as they have Lake Tanganyika & the Indian Ocean which no country is sharing with them. Why our lake now when oil is mentioned? Bravo Mr President.

    1. Just a point of clarification so you can think like the rest of your fellow schooled guys: Indians do not claim ownership of the Indian Ocean just because it is named after their nation. It shared among various countries including Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar and South Africa in Africa and other countries outside the dark continent. Similarly, Lake Tanganyika is shared among Tanzania, DRC, Zambia and Burundi – with Tanzania and DRC owning almost a similar size of the lake.

  85. It’s good that Kamuzu Banda , Joyce Banda and Peter Munthalika are all saying the same language on our lake.

  87. thanks our beloved president,indeed if your neighbour want negostiation on farm which you know exactly that is yours means that one is a rebal he want to grable part of it so what is required is never give him a chance for discastins that can read to suck our tax payers to book hotels and food for the panelist.it doesn’t mean afraid of truth or lady for something but it is what it is.Mr President God be with you as you will be processing this issue.Brison Brainfast Mpoto Kasonda.

  88. Good one bwana Nyapapi Muthalika. Eversince Kamuzu was in power, Tanzania had even no millimeter of our flesh water so came Bakili and Bingu. Amai was so flexible to let the Tanzanians,discuss about LMalawi. Go Nyapapi GO, NON Negotiable INDEED

  89. Bravo Peter! This is the whole reason I like Mutharikas. They have a position in any issues.
    Lake Malawi belongs to Malawi.
    On this APM, you have the reason to serve Malawi for entire term of your office.
    KEEP BLESSED! !!!!!!!!

  91. Za lake malawi kaya lake chahi Tiribe nazo ntchito pakali pano.
    Kuli mabvuto mbwe oposa lake malawi amene mukulephera kusova.
    Chitetezo chinatheratu, kulibe.
    Kwacha ikutheratu
    Zinthu zosiyana siyana (basic needs) zikukwera ntengo daily
    Passport ndiyo yakwerayo
    License chimodzi modzi
    Blantyre yatha 5 days yopanda madzi
    Ogwira ntchito m’boma mukulephera kuwapatsa malipiro awo pa 27. Ena akulandira pa 57.
    A court ali pa strike koma you are Clueless just as you were Clueless with the Academic Freedom saga when you were Minister of Educ.
    Za nyanja ya Malawi tiribe nazo ntchito.
    KONZANI MA INTERNAL PROBLEMS FIRST
    THAT IS THE CURRENT PRIORITY.
    No offense.

  92. I totally agree with His Excellency Mutharika, the President of the Beautiful Republic of Malawi. Lake Malawi belongs to Malawi. Tanzania is aware of this. We cannot share it now. If Tanzania wants part of our Lake they must give Malawi a part of their country ie, a stretch of land extending to the Indian Ocean where Malawi can construct her sea port. I think this is the end of this matter. Whoever wants to share Lake Malawi is an aggressor and the world is watching this.

  93. Palibenso Zokambirana Pamenepa Anadziwa Liti Kuti Mbali Ina Ndiyawo?Ndipo Anawauza Ndani Kuti Mbali Ina Yanyanjayo Ndiyawo?

  94. kumeneko ndiye kuyankhula kwa Mtsogoleri osamabisa mau ayi, awa ankhala pakatiwa azidziwiratu kuti ngakhale tikukambirana koma nkhaniyi siyoti ndikumakambirana ayi.Not even an inch!! Kkkkk i like that Mr President,Lake Malawi/Nyasa belongs to Malawi and is for Malawians and Tanzania can not claim even a half inch of it.We won’t let this lake go cheaply.

  98. I may not necessarily agree with peters policy but matters of sovereignty I agree with him that claiming the lake is an invasion of our land and its non negotiable. ofcourse we don’t want war but what if our friends are ready for battle? Let’s get ready for anything whilst we pursue the ICJ route. Its high time we start getting confirmation of support from our military partners if they will stand.by us

  99. Tingoswanapo basi,kodi asilikali athu adzingolandira makobiri osakudzululana ndi anzao?Ingoyambikapo basi,bravo Mr president palibe zokambilana pamenepa iya.

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