NO WAR WITH MALAWI - SAYS KIKWETE

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete has categorically denied reports that his country is preparing to go to war with its neighbour, Malawi, because of a dispute over Lake Malawi, where a British- based company is exploring for oil.

Speaking to journalists after a closed discussion with the Malawi President Mrs Joyce Banda in Maputo, Mozambique, the Tanzanian leader said the war mongering comments were coming from overzealous opposition parties in his country who want to score political mileage over the issue.

“I am the Commander of the army. I have not issued any directive to my armed forces for war. So if it did not come from me, it is not true,” said Kikwete.

Diplomatic talks: Kikwete and Banda

There have been reports of war by the Tanzanian media that army tanks and forces have been patrolling the Tanzanian side of the lake.

Kikwete said his country has over the years enjoyed good relationship with Malawi and it has no intention to strain it in any way.

Dialogue

The Tanzanian leader who kept on referring to the Malawi President Banda as “my sister” said the two countries will use dialogue to resolve the issue.

The two countries have set up a working committee which will meet on August 20 in Mzuzu city, northern Malawi.

President Banda said she is hopeful that the border issue will be handled “diplomatically”.

She thanked President Kikwete for sparing time to discuss the matter, saying it had raised fears among people living along the lake.

Ownership

President Kikwete, however, said his government will leave the issue to the working technical committee of the two countries to get to its final conclusion.
Jokes

Meanwhile, during Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) summit in Mozambique, Zambian President Micheal Sata interjected the chairperson’ speech to joke about the border dispute between Malawi and Tanzania.

When opening the summit earlier, Mozambican President Armando Guebuza said the regional bloc will also have to confront a brewing border conflict between Malawi and Tanzania.

But Sata saw an opportunity to joke.

“If they start fighting we are going to host the refugees,” he shouted from his seat.