News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo
Reports emerging from both Dar E Salaam and Lilongwe says Malawi which is currently locked up in serious dispute with the neighboring Tanzania over the oil and gas exploration in Lake Nyansa has now withdrawn aero planes that were making aerial mapping of Lake Nyasa which is also known as lake Malawi, after Tanzania warned the exercise was in a violation of its territorial waters.
Tension has been building up in recent weeks over Malawian oil exploration in the lake, which is shared by the two countries as well as ferries and tourist boats ”intruding into Tanzanian waters.”
Malawi claims the entire lake as its own, but Tanzania insists the border between the two countries runs through the middle of the lake.
The matter has remained unresolved since the two neighboring nations gained political independence in early 1950s.
Local but impeccable sources from KASUMBU IN Kyela district – a bust dusty town which is located on the border has revealed in a telephone interview that the planes are no longer flying in the area.
‘Life here continues to be normal; all the talks about tension with Malawi emanates from Dar Es Salaam”, said one villager who is a resident in Lusungo who requested for his anonymity.
However, villagers’ of the Malawi side of the border are reported to have fled and abandoned their homes, fearing that war could break out at any time.
MeanwhileTanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Benard Membe recently told hushed parliamentary session in the Central Tanzanian City of Dodoma that Malawi must cease oil and gas exploration on the disputed lake. All diplomatic channels could be exhausted in order to resolve the simmering border conflict, he said.
However, the former Tanzania’s Prime Minister Edward Lowassa who is now the chairman of his country’s Parliamentary committee on defense, security and foreign affairs was last week quoted by he local media as saying that Tanzania was ready to go to war if need be.
“We know the cost of war, because of our experience in Uganda. We urge the government, a the Foreign Affairs Minister said in parliament, that let’s exhaust all the diplomatic channels, but we are ready to defend our sovereignty at any cost”, said Lowassa.
Lowassa as speaking to newsmen after a briefing by senior Tanzania People Defense Forces officers who told his committee that the army is prepared for a military confrontation, should diplomacy fail.
“We are satisfied with progress being made by the government o the diplomatic front, but military preparations must also be made to make sure all options are available when it comes to making the final decision,’ the former Prime Minister said
Earlier Malawi had vowed to continue with oil and gas exploration in the lake, defiantly dismissing the demand by Tanzania to halt prospecting.
“We categorically put it to them that, said far as we are concerned, the entire lake belongs to Malawi,” Patrick Kalambe the Principal Secretary in Malawi’ Ministry 0f Foreign Affairs said I a recent statement. He said the saw no reason to stop the oil exploration project,”
A week ago Minister Membe said “exploration activities I the northeast part of the lake should be shelved to pave the way for dialogue to resolve the crisis.”
Malawi’s oil exploration affects villages in Kyela district that depend on fishing and farming along the eastern shore.
Lake Nyasa is the home to a variety or ornament fish, which are exported to Europe.
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