Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete says his country has no plans to indulge in war with neighbouring Malawi and instead it will use regular diplomatic channels and mediation in resolving any potential misunderstanding between the two counties.
The July 20 edition of Tanzania’s Guardian On Sunday quotes him as saying that the simmering border dispute between the two would amicably be resolved through the efforts of former president Joachim Chissano of Mozambique and South African retired president Thabo Mbeki.
Addressing residents of Nyasa District at Mbambabay Stadium, according to the newspapers, the Tanzanian president pledged peace and harmony to all Tanzanians and Nyasa residents in particular, urging them to stop worrying and instead focus on their daily activities.
The paper quotes Kikwete as indicating that he would speak to President Peter Mutharika as the relationship between Tanzania and Malawi had been improving during the tenure of former president Joyce Banda.
Still, Kikwete admitted, according to the newspaper, that the border dispute has not been solved and the government seeks to ask for a continuation of consultations by the two former presidents of Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) member countries to bring about a solution.
“My fellow citizens don’t worry. Work and fish with pleasure and proceed with your daily activities. Use Lake Nyasa without any worries because there won’t be any war with any country and the border conflict with Malawi is going to be over soon, and we will cooperate as always,” the newspaper quotes him as telling the audience.
On the construction of a Lake Nyasa harbour and buying of a ship, he is quoted as saying his government has prepared Sh.23 billion to start buying ships for Lake Nyasa, Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika, so as to sort out transportation problems in those areas.
Reacting to the developments, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation spokesperson Quent Kalichero said Malawi is excited at the reports as it believes the dispute should be resolved through diplomatic channels.
Said Kalichero: “Malawi and Tanzania have coexisted as one people and, therefore, any resolution outside diplomatic means would be counterproductive.”
