Mzimba Ngonis want Hora turned into tourist site
Mzimba Heritage Association says it will not relent in its plans of turning the Hora Heritage Site into a tourism hub as designs for a museum have been submitted to the Department of Culture.
The heritage’s secretary, Aupson Thole, said in an interview that they are still working on designs for the hotel which they plan to construct at the heritage site.
“Anytime we will be submitting these plans to government so that Hora is turned into a tourist destination,” he said.
During the Umthetho Festival celebrations last year, Mzimba Heritage Association chairperson Boston Soko said Hora Heritage Site, which hosts the festival, has the potential to contribute to tourism in the country, given its history as the epicentre of early Ngoni settlements.
He said, like the case with Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, the association dreams of putting up a cable to take hikers up the mountain.
“This would help bring tourists to the country from all over the world,” said Soko.
Apart from plans to build a hotel and museum, the association also wants to build a stadium, cultural village and a cultural skills centre.
Minister of Civic Education, Culture and Community Service Cecilia Chazama said the festival complements government’s efforts in promoting and safeguarding the rich cultural heritage “that we have in Malawi”.
“This annual festival, if well publicised, has the potential of promoting cultural tourism which can lead to the socio-economic development of our nation.”
The festival, which took place on Saturday, was celebrated under the theme Role of Women in Ngoni Culture.
