Lake Malawi dispute: SADC Forum keen to resolve dispute

The Southern African Development Community (Sadc) forum of retired heads of State has confirmed that it will continue mediating on Lake Malawi boundary dispute despite indications by Malawi to opt for International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Tanzanian Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Bernard Membe told the media in Dar es Salaam on Thursday that he received a letter from the forum’s chairperson Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, notifying Tanzania about the forum’s commitment to the Lake Malawi border dispute.

“We have received the letter from [former] president Chissano over their commitment to the Lake Nyasa [Malawi] border dispute. We are happy that they have remained firm and honouring what Malawi and Tanzania agreed on during the November meeting held in Dar es Salaam,” Membe is quoted by The Citizen.

He told the media that in the letter, Chissano has communicated to the number of high-profile legal experts and those with vast experience in border disputes within the continent.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ephraim Chiume has since clarified that Malawi is committed to the mediation process.

Malawi and Tanzania through their Foreign Affairs ministers agreed that both parties should wait and honour the decision reached by the forum of retired heads of State.

Last week, President Joyce Banda indicated that the Forum’s intervention was a waste of time and it was opting to go to ICJ. But Tanzania has not yet ratified the ICJ protocol.