TNM, Kumbali Lodge in a K22 million Lake Malawi Expedition Project

By Sellaphine Banda

Kumbali Lodge in Salima, Integrated Mobile Network and TNM have set aside K22.2 million for a 52-day expedition project on Lake Malawi which is expected to reveal rare and beautiful sceneries that are on the lake.

The project aims at documenting the diversity of Lake Malawi, including ecotourism and culture across the entire lake’s breadth and length.

Speaking during the launch in Salima on Sunday, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Francis Kasaila said the project was important to the country’s tourism industry and culture.

“Lake Malawi is at the centre of tourism products that the country has, and that it is the most beautiful lake.

“It has different fish species that are only found in this country. There is more that needs to be discovered at the lake so that we can continue attracting more tourists,” Kasaila said.

He further said government will take full advantage of the project to discover a lot of things about the lake.

“After the 52 days of exploring what the lake is all about, we are going to introduce more products that will help to sell Malawi to the international community.

“This will increase the number of tourists coming into the country,” Kasaila said.

According to the minister, the tourism sector contributes eight per cent Gross Domestic Products (GDP) to the country’s economy.

He said that showed the tourism industry has great potential in the economic development of the country.

The expedition project, dubbed Calendar Lake Malawi Project, a brainchild of Kumbali Lodge, involves an expedition around Malawi to film and showcase beautiful and rare sceneries around the lake.

Chief Executive Officer for Telekom Networks Malawi, Michiel Buitelaar, said the sponsorship to the project reaffirms the company’s mission to create possibilities through promoting Lake Malawi, one of the country’s largest natural and tourism assets.

“As home-grown company, TNM has recently been a partner of landmark annual national eco-tourism events such as the Mulanje Porters’ Race and the Lake of Stars,” Buitelaar said.

“The project will take the country to another level through showcasing tourism sceneries and historical perspective,” he added.

Managing Director of Nature Gifts and Kumbali Properties, Moreen Pickring expressed gratitude to TNM for the sponsorship.

“We at Kumbali would like to thank TNM for the money put in this project as it will help achieve our goals of selling the country at international level,” Pickring said.-Mana a