The mood was jovial at Likhubula Forest ground at the foot of Mulanje Mountain on Saturday when the Porters Race was hosted for the first time at the United Nations Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) World Heritage Site (WHS).
The Unesco World Heritage Committee meeting in Paris, France, on Friday approved the mountain as a WHS, 20 years after Malawi made the first submission.
It becomes the third site in the country after Lake Malawi National Park and the Chongoni Rock Arts.
Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule said she was happy to be at the first Porters Race at the global protected area, adding the declaration presents a host of opportunities for growth.
Kamtukule, who was named Mulanje Mountain Ambassador, observed: “Since the mountain is on the global listing, we must ensure lives of the participants in this globally-known race are improved. Setting up a welfare fund is important.”
According to her, porters and guides are the lifeline of the tourist attraction; hence, the need to improve their lives.
Kamtukule, the second minister in the portfolio to reach the highest peak on the mountain after Michael Usi, recounted her hike last year to the highest point in Southern Central Africa, Sapitwa, at 3 002 metres above sea level.
“That hike was hard. It took us nine hours to reach the Chisepo Hut where we spent the night before another three hours to Sapitwa. I was in pain. I was like, I need water, I need Panadol. I thought I was dying. But one thing, throughout the ordeal, my porter was always there a metre away,” she said.
Traditional Authority Mkanda was equally happy with the new status of the mountain, a view shared by Mulanje District Council chairperson Daniel Chauluka, who believes this new status will enable more revenue for the people and the council.
Tour management firm Orbis DMC executive director Innocent Kaliati said the new status of the mountain will boost tourism.
“We know there will be more funding in improving the protection of the mountain. We wish the government would also consider opening up for private partnership in the management of the infrastructure in the mountain,” said the former executive director of the Malawi Tourism Council.
National Initiative for Civic Education Mulanje programmes officer Silvester Kholomana used the event to spread the electoral message, as the campaign period rolls out tomorrow.
“We had to dispel rumours since some people were spreading misinformation that people won’t need to vote because some machines have already done that. We are encouraging them to attend all political rallies to make informed decisions,” he said.
