Traditional leaders in the southern region of Malawi have vowed to defend the ownership of Lake Malawi describing Tanzania’s claims that it owns part of the lake as unfounded.

They say as custodians of the country’s history, they are aware that the lake belongs to Malawi.

The chiefs’ stand comes barely a week after the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) advised President Joyce Banda and her administration to take a tough stand on Tanzania’s claim that part of the lake belongs to it.

According to PAC, Malawi is the rightful owner of the lake, according to the signatory of the water, hence no need for negotiations about the issue.

A new map released by the Tanzanian authorities shows that the northern part of the lake belongs to them.

Speaking on the sidelines of the consultative meeting organised by the ministry of information in Nsanje, Traditional Authority Malemia revealed that chiefs in the southern region have been meeting on the matter.

Malemia told Capital fm that the chiefs have vowed to stand up against any attempts by Tanzania to own part of the lake.

He said the introduction of a new map by the Tanzanian government is a true manifestation of sinister motives on their part.