Tanzania
expels Malawi registered oil explorers
Tanzania on Monday ordered all Malawi
licensed companies that search for oil and gas along the disputed borders of Lake
Nyasa to stop with immediate effect.
As the tension grew between Tanzania and
Malawi over their border at Lake Nyasa, the government talked tough, declaring
that it will protect its people at any cost.
The Minister for Foreign affairs and
international cooperation Bernard Membe told the Parliament that both
governments are still in discussions over the border conflict and recently
agreed to stop all activities which may be perceived as affecting the interests
of either country.
According to Mr. Membe, the government
received credible information from Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation
that Malawi has already divided some plots along the shores of the lake on the
Tanzanian side to some oil and gas prospecting firms.
“The government orders such firms to stop
their activities from today (Monday) and we hope our colleagues from Malawi
have understood. We want to assure Tanzanians that our country will remain safe
from any vivid and secret threat,” emphasized Mr. Membe when tabling his
ministry’s estimates for this financial year.
Tanzania and Malawi are feuding over the
ownership of Lake Nyasa that borders the two countries. Tanzania seeks 50 per
cent ownership of Lake Nyasa, but Malawi is claiming it all. “This may threaten
security of our country. We urge our counterpart Malawi to respect agreements
and remove all aircrafts that are landing on the lake,” he added.
Malawi claims
Malawi
is citing the Anglo-German Agreement signed July 1, 1890 as the contract that
grants it full ownership.
By ALAWI
MASARE Posted Monday, August 6 2012 at 15:40
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