Preserving tumbuka heritage

Tumbuka Heritage Association (Tuheri) has embarked on infrastructure project that will see its Kadumuliro heritage site in Rumphi upgraded into an eco-tourism centre to promote and preserve their culture.

Kadumuliro, according to Tuheri, holds rich historical information of the Tumbuka people. However, the site has not been given the required attention deserving its historical richness.

The place could not host this year’s Tumbuka cultural festival, Gonapamuhanya due to its poor state and instead the event was held at Bolero Community Football ground.

In an interview after the festival last Saturday, Tuheri national coordinator Hubert Mfune said that they have embarked on the construction works that will see Kadumuliro becoming not only the site to keep Tumbuka artifacts, but also eco-tourism iceberg.

“Onwards, we will have all the heritage things at Kadumuliro. That is the ideal site because it holds our historical information. We are working on it to change its outlook and we will erect the necessary structures so that apart from hosting the annual festival, it will also cater as an eco-tourism centre in the district,” he said.

Mfune said they associated this year’s Gonapamuhanya with conserving and restoring nature, adding that they thought of turning Kadumuliro Heritage Site into an eco-tourism centre.

“We can say this year’s Gonapamuhanya was special because through the event we were advocating for conservation of natural resources and re-forestation. We want to become a heritage association that is above all as far as conservation of nature is concerned.  That is why we are developing Kadumuliro into eco-tourism historic centre,” he said.

Tuheri has since asked government to improve the road network in Rumphi so that visitors can easily connect to Kadumuliro.

In his response at the event Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Richard Chimwendo Banda said government is aware of the challenge and works on Rumphi-Chitipa road will be finalised before 2025.

“Government is aware of roads problem in Rumphi. We are working on that. We will make sure that the work to do with Rumphi-Chitipa road is finalised before 2025,” he said.