Malawi President Joyce Banda accuses Tanzania of aggression over the disputed Lake Nyasa
Malawi President Joyce Banda has pulled her country out of border discussions with Tanzania following what she said was Dar es Salaam's aggression and threats.
Malawi is now looking at taking the matter to international court, President Banda said.
The two countries have been involved in a bitter wrangle for Lake Nyasa (also known as Lake Malawi) which is thought to have potential oil and gas deposits.
President Banda said she had ordered the Foreign Affairs ministry to officially call off the talks between the two countries following Tanzania's decision to launch a new map.
She was speaking on arrival from the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday.
"When I was leaving the country for the UN I thought the issue with Tanzania was sorted out and that we are going to pursue dialogue.
"However [during] the period I have been away, Tanzania relaunched a new map, they are harrassing our fishermen and they are sailing boats in our lake.
"It is a serious matter now and we have to take it to the other level. Tanzania has threatened to blow up any Malawi boat that would sail on Lake Malawi," said President Banda.
The Malawian leader said she had discussed the matter with UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon informing him of her intention to take the issue to the International Court of Justice. (Read: Malawi banking on history in battle for Lake Malawi)
President Banda said that her Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete had in a SADC meeting in Mozambique assured her the matter would be resolved peacefully.
She was therefore surprised, she said, when President Kikwete in an address to Tanzanians accused Malawi of denying his citizens access to the lake.
"I was about to go to Tanzania to pay a courtesy call to President Kikwete but I have advised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to write them informing them of the pull out," she said.
Source:Africareview
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