Germany and British Treaty of 1890: Malawi and Tanzania harden positions ahead of Lake Nyasa talks

Alawi Masare and Rex chikoko

What’s at stake? Tanzania is seeking 50 per cent ownership of Lake Malawi. The lake is in the southern part of Tanzania, bordering Malawi, and is reported to have signs of bearing oil and gas.

Malawi and Tanzania are adopting hardline stances ahead of crucial talks over the ownership of a disputed lake thought to have oil deposits. Malawi, which has licensed British prospector Surestream Petroleum to prospect for oil and gas in Lake Malawi, says the water body is wholly in its territory, a claim opposed by Tanzania.

The two countries have scheduled showdown talks for August 20 but Tanzania on Thursday vowed to safeguard its territory from what it said was provocation from its neighbour. “..I want to allay fears among residents around Lake Nyasa; I am telling [Tanzania residents] that they should carry on with their daily activities. The government is stable and ready for any provocation,” Leader of Government Business Samuel Sitta was quoted saying in parliament.

Lake Malawi, also referred to as Lake Nyasa by some countries, is further bordered by Mozambique.

Mr Sitta said Tanzania had been shocked by a Malawian declaration this week that the lake was entirely in its territory and told residents around the lake not to panic.

An official statement from the Tanzania government is expected on Monday. The east African country is claiming 50 per cent of the shared lake, a demand dismissed by Malawi. Malawi Minister of Energy and Mines Cassim Chilumpha, while downplaying the dispute, said his country would continue prospecting for hydrocarbons in the lake.

“There is no dispute on the border between Tanzania and Malawi, let’s talk this with sober minds, and hope this will be solved diplomatically,” Dr Chilupha said.

The minister, however, said Malawi would not cease oil exploration in the lake, despite a Tanzanian demand that it do so.

“We have communicated to Tanzania government that oil exploration will not stop, the reason being as far as we are concerned, we understand the exploration is being dome within the legal boundaries,” he said.

Dr Chilumpha said Malawi is justified to explore for oil in the lake as it is within its borders as stipulated in the Germany and British treaty of 1890, and reaffirmed by the Organisation of African Union meeting conducted in 1963.

Source: Sunday Monitor (05/08/2012): http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/World/Malawi+and+Tanzania+harden+positions+ahead+of+lake+talks/-/688340/1471098/-/nxeojpz/-/index.html