Chissano jets in for Nyasa talks

Joaquim Alberto Chissano (born 22 October 1939) served as the second President of Mozambique from 1986 to 2005. He is credited with transforming the war-torn country of Mozambique into one of the most successful African democracies. After his presidency, Chissano became an elder statesman and envoy 

By Mkinga Mkinga, The Citizen

In Summary

• Mr Chissano, who leads a forum of former heads of state and government of the Southern Development Corporation (Sadc), is in Dar es Salaam on a fact-finding mission in an effort to resolve the disagreement between Malawi and Tanzania over the ownership of Lake Nyasa, reliable sources close to the matter told The Citizen yesterday.

Dar es Salaam. The mediator in the Lake Nyasa border dispute, former Mozambican President Joachim Chissano and his team, are in Dar es Salaam for talks with government officials over the disagreement between Tanzania and Malawi.

Mr Chissano, who leads a forum of former heads of state and government of the Southern Development Corporation (Sadc), is in Dar es Salaam on a fact-finding mission in an effort to resolve the disagreement between Malawi and Tanzania over the ownership of Lake Nyasa, reliable sources close to the matter told The Citizen yesterday.

Mr Chissano and his team held a series of meetings with President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday and with the minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development Prof Anna Tibaijuka as well as the minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Bernard Membe.

“It’s true that former presidents Joachim Chissano of Mozambique and Festus Mogae of Botswana are in the country since Sunday and they have been engaged in meetings here with the Head of State and some senior cabinet ministers."

"They are in a fact finding mission as they did in Lilongwe in July, this year,” the source said.

Malawi and Tanzania are at loggerheads over the ownership of Lake Nyasa, which is known in Malawi as Lake Malawi.

While Malawi claims its border is on the eastern shore of the lake, according to the 1890 Heligoland agreement, Tanzania says the border must be in the middle of the lake in accordance with international laws.