Who Owns Lake Nyasa, Malawi or Tanzania?
The border dispute between the two countries on the lake is unpinned by the unconfirmed but promising potential for huge oil and gas reserves buried under its shores. Perhaps more than anything else, it amplifies Africa's geographic, ethnic and linguistic problems in the post-colonial era. Allafrica brings you a selection of the coverage from our content providers.
Photo: Paul venter/wikipedia
Tanzania refers to it as Lake Nyasa while Malawi calls it Lake Malawi. The lake straddles the borders of three countries - Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.
InFocus
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Elders have rejected Malawi's claim to exclusive ownership of Lake Nyasa, which borders Tanzania on one side, accusing them of "dangerous daydreaming". Read more »
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Despite Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete's insistence on a peaceful resolution to the Lake Nyasa dispute, tension continues to rise as elders dispute Malawi's claim of ownership ... Read more »
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Who owns Lake Tanganyika? Zambbia, or Bururndi or DRC? Could Tanzanians please move their border to where other countries bordering the lake can claim the portion?
Sir, As someone born in Malawi back in 1962, I read your article with interest. It would seem to me that looking back over the past history and maps would be fraught with complications – Germans/English/Portuguese, each empire having its own maps to serve their purposes. The world was also a very different place back then. It would seem that the 2 neighbors would benefit a lot more by building castles together rather than destroying them. So how about this for a tin-pot suggestion: Look at the people on the lake – Malawians and Tanzanians – I guess they both use the lake for much the same thing - tourism, fishing, navigation…… If the lake could benefit them, then so each country would benefit! One could take the Queen Victoria / Mount Kilimanjaro scenario and just draw a straight line. I guess there are also secondary issues here. Would Tanzania allow Malawi to run trains through to the coast, would Malawi sink every Tanzanian fishing boat? Does not seem to constructive to me! Would it not be possible to have some sort of joint Lake authority. This could then control, monitor and manage position, usage, natural resources issues (if there are some). This authority could always be overseen by a third party that has no benefit one way or the other. But who, that would be the question – who would split the spoils without any or little gain? Malawi could be the chairperson one year, and Tanzania the next. Then if one country does something bad next year, revenge may follow the following year. If on country did something good one year, then construction of the Lake’s infrastructure would benefit the next year as well. Malawi and Tanzania seem to be one of the more stable parts of Africa, and it would be a shame to see it go the way of some other regions. This is a beautiful lake, and my memories of it are very dear it me. Anyway, sabre rattling and name calling rarely achieves anything.
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