Museums desire to rise again

In recent years, museums in the country have had a low profile in terms of playing their roles of cultural preservation, largely due to lack of finances.

Chichiri Museum officer-In-Charge Robert Kambwembwe said in an interview museums retain a crucial role in cultural preservation and tourism promotion in the country.

“The challenges that we are facing now are different as government has other priorities. Maybe we just need to wake up and align ourselves with the present realities. The sector needs investment and recapitalisation to effectively play its role,” he said.

Kambwembwe said this yesterday on the sidelines of a clean-up exercise at the Chichiri Museum jointly coordinated by hospitality service providers Amaryllis Hotel and Malawi Institute of Tourism (MIT). The exercise is part of  activities for the National Tourism Month.

He said the funding they receive is not adequate, adding that it is pleasing when private entities such as Amaryllis Hotel and MIT make initiatives to uplift their service delivery.

Malawi has six museum establishments, Chichiri Museum, opened in 1966, Top Mandala in Blantyre, Lake Malawi in Mangochi, Mtengatenga Postal Hut in Chiradzulu, Karonga and Mzuzu museums.

Kambwembwe said their job is to collect objects for conservation, exhibition and offering education to visitors who come to learn about their culture.

Amaryllis Hotel general manager Ramy Waheed said the museums are not well projected as tourism facilities and their intervention was to raise awareness and appreciate the importance of the place.

“Museums tell our history. By keeping museums in good condition is an act of protecting our history. I am happy to see the historical objects and artifacts that are being kept here,” he said.

Waheed said their intervention has sent a message to authorities that they are serious, active and optimistic about tourism in Malawi.

MIT head of travel and tourism management Denis Magobi said they wanted to communicate to the world that tourism is for everyone and that the exercise allowed their students to participate as part of tourism month activities.

After the cleaning exercise, Chichiri Heritage Entertainment Dance Troupe offered a traditional dance display.