Tanzania wants to benefit oil resourcess in Lake Malawi: ‘We want our fair share of the lake’

Tanzania says it is maintaining its  claim that it owns half of the eastern part of Lake Malawi and  it wants a share of the oil resources in the lake which they call Lake Nyasa.

President John Magufuli: Tanzania claim to half the Lake Nyasa known also as Lake Malawi and his country  wants share of Lake Malawi oil

For decades, Malawi and Tanzania have been at loggerheads over the lake’s boundaries.

While Malawi claims ownership of the entire lake citing a 1890 agreement between Britain and Germany, Tanzania insists that the northern side of Africa’s third largest freshwater lake falls within its territory.

“It is not a secret that Malawi has started exploring oil on the lake. In as far as we are concerned, we would also want to benefit from the same resources,” said Tanzania’s High Commissioner Victoria Mwakasege in quotes reported by the Weekend Nation newspaper.

He said the two neighbouring nations “need to find a solution to deal with these matters and the talks will give us a direction on the way forward on the matter.”

“Our position on the lake has never changed because we have always maintained that our common border is in the middle of that lake.

“The issue is that we always demarcate new districts and regions and, therefore, time and again we publish new maps to highlight those changes,” she said.

During his presidential campaign, Mutharika had said the border dispute with Tanzania – which revolves around the disputed lake – was not negotiable.

A grouping of former SADC heads of state and government, led by former Mozambique president Joaquim Chissano, is currently mediating the dispute at the request of both countries.

Mediation to resolve the dispute has been stalled since 2012, but will be revived this year.

The border dispute resurfaced after Lilongwe in 2011 awarded licences to drill for oil and gas on the northern part of the lake.

Tanzania has in the past demanded that Malawi should halt exploration activities to allow for a diplomatic solution.

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mariam mhasibu
mariam mhasibu
6 years ago

shut up your dental formula you son of beach
for your information you won’t benefit from lake Malawi. leave us alone.
ur death is near coz ur day’s is expired already.

john namadingo
john namadingo
6 years ago

shut up your dental formula you son of beach
for your information you won’t benefit from lake Malawi. leave us alone.
ur death is near coz ur day’s is expired already.

Mabusa
Mabusa
6 years ago

Is Nyasa the former name of Tanzania how come Tanzania calls its lake with a name of another country? We know Malawi formerly was called Nyasaland and Tanzania was Tanganyika. Or just stop drill oil and gas from the lake to stop the lake issue moreover the oil and gas from lake Malawi will never benefit Malawi nationals but just few fatty bulls

Phillip Banda
Phillip Banda
6 years ago

Ayambaponso? zosatheka zimenezo.

Simon Salambula
Simon Salambula
6 years ago

This broad daylight thievery by Tanzania must stop. We cannot share any resources from our lake Malawi with you.
We will not allow that to happen as long as we breathe.

vibisi
vibisi
6 years ago

Iam ready to defend my country when duty calls summon me up

Kandawe
Kandawe
6 years ago

They call lake Malawi as lake Nyasa, and for sure they know that Malawi is formerly known as Nyasa which is now Malawi, so why are you saying lake Nyasa, Malawi must be shared half with you as if it is lake Tanganyika, leave us alone Magufuli

misheck
misheck
6 years ago

Poor Tanzania should it now an issue because of oil speculation where were you before

ebuka
6 years ago

Thats completely stupid, how can lake malawi become tanzanias lake? Infact it should be Malawi complaining because malawi border goes beyond mbeya

Majete Banda
Majete Banda
6 years ago

I KEEP ON WONDERING WHY SHOULD PRESIDENT MAGUFULI and his Tanzanians insist part of Lake Malawi belongs to his country? Joachim and his negotiating team will not achieve anything beneficial to Malawi.Take my word.Britain and Germany are the two countries who know about the boundary.Ndikudabwa bwanji utsogoleri wa dziko lino afunse maiko a Britain ndi Germany athandize to settle this lake boundary dispute.Tasiyani oil exploration on the Lake please.Ngakhale boma la Malawi ndi chipani cha DPP akukakamila kuti oil exploration ichitike pa nyanja ya Lake Malawi Izi sizidzabweletsa ndalama ndi kutukula miyoyo ya aMalawi.

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