Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Theresa Senzani said Mulanje Mountain Porters is gaining popularity as shown by the number of foreigners who turned out for this year’s event.

Senzani said the ministry was impressed with the event because it was in line with the government’s policy of promoting tourism in the country. She said the ministry would do everything possible to promote the event by lobbying sponsorship from companies.

“We are very impressed with the organisation of the Porters Race despite that there was no sponsor as we have seen more tourists participating,” Senzani said.

“The ministry would like to promote such events-based functions because they bring a lot of people together.”

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Sports Justin Said also said the Porters Race had been critical in the development of athletes in the country despite being a tourism event.

“Porters Race has had a history of producing athletes at national level,” he said. “Athletes such as Francis Khanje, Chancy Master, Tereza Master and Nancy Matanda, who have been representing the country at national event were spotted from the Porters Race.”

In the men’s event, Evance Nyazule ended Charles Musowa’s dominance by winning the race with youthful Leo Chikhwaza finishing third. Chikhwaza was leading the race up to the 8km mark when he was outpaced by the race’s veterans, Nyazule and Musowa.

Tereza Master’s extended her unprecedented record in the race by winning the eight title in the competition’s 17-year history. – By Patrick Lunda

Picture – Senzani (left), Saidi (right) and other officials took part in a fun run