Ministry decorates Kilimanjaro hikers
Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture Michael Usi on Sunday presented medals to 19 local hikers who recently climbed the highest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
Speaking during the commemoration of the International Mountains Day at the Malawi Defence Force Parachute Battalion in Salima, the minister hailed the 19 for putting Malawi on the map in the promotion of tourism.
“You did us proud. You made history when you became the first large number of Malawians to make the attempt,” he said.
Usi said mountains are important in the promotion of tourism and people’s livelihoods as many rivers and lakes have their sources in mountains.
“Mountains add beauty. We are promoting culture in conservation. Time has come for us to act on protecting the environment. You see, three of our cities of Zomba, Blantyre and Mzuzu are surrounded by mountains:
“Can’t we make them green and lively again?” he said.
Some of the hikers who received the medals are Emmanuel Maliro, Tumpale Mwamondwe, Austin Mndolo, Kondwani Chamwala, Colby Mughogho, Chifundo Tenthani, Akonda Chakhaza, Kingsley Mambo, Kenney Jana, Violet Tabu Chisiano, Agnes Mbale, Chance Mkandawire, Tikhale Kathumba, Carolyn Ngwira and Keta Mulwafu and his wife Sarah.
The ministry also awarded Macpherson Nthara, deputy director of land resource management in the Ministry of Agriculture, who coordinated this year’s event, as a ‘Champion of the Mountains’.
In an interview after scaling the seven Senga Bay hills, Chakhaza was over the moon for the medal.
“I am overjoyed to receive this medal. The hike was a lifetime experience and this award is so great. I have liked the theme for this year’s International Mountain Day: Women Move Mountains. I encourage women that we can do anything and we can get anything we want. My next target is to hike Kenya Mountain,” she said.
On his part, Maliro said it was a privilege for him to get the medal and a bottle of Malawi Gin from Castel Malawi. He thanked Castel for the drink.
“I feel privileged to be one of the first hikers in Malawi to receive a medal from the government, through the Ministry of Tourism, for conquering Kilimanjaro. This accomplishment is a significant milestone in my life… I can stand tall and proudly claim that I have played a huge role in marketing hiking in Malawi,” said Maliro.
According to Mndolo, one of the organisers for this year’s hike, this year’s trek attracted over 160 adventurers from across the country.
“That is growth from the 117 hikers we had on Zomba Mountain last year. As we rotate the commemoration, we envisage to scale Hora Mountain in Mzimba next year,” said Mndolo. N
