On the 2007 Mt Mulanje Porters Race

Master retains Mt Mulanje porters title

By Hastings Maloya

Point proven, she is a genius. She did not only defend her championship but also beat her own record of last year. Tereza Master has, for a second year running won the Mount Mulanje Porters Race after doing the trek in 2 hours 42 minutes seven minutes less of her 2006 record of 2 hours 49 minutes. She walked home K20, 000 richer and a trophy from NBS Bank. Her long time friend Nancy Matanda, current national marathon champion, came second after doing the distance in 2 hours 48 minutes, followed by Doris Fisha on the third position.

“This is a consolation as I was supposed to be at the All Africa Games in Algeria had everything gone as planned, but anyway I am very happy to have defended my title.” said the excited Master. She said the race helps her keep her fitness.

In the men’s category, a new name in the athletic circles, Charles Musowa, who has been on second position for the past two consecutive years, breathed fire and claimed the championship of Malawi’s only extreme sport. He also K20, 000 bank voucher to open an account with NBS Bank thanks to NBS Bank, the proud sponsors of the 2007 Mount Mulanje Porters Race.

Musowa, one of the porters from Likhubula zone, did the 25km mountain trek in 2 hours 9 minutes beating last years record of Francis Khanje at 2 hours 17 minutes. Mike Tebulo from Zomba came second while Khanje came third and received K15, 000 and K10, 000 respectively from NBS Bank.

“I have finally done it,” said the excited Musowa adding: “its time now Malawi knew that from Mulanje now comes another name in athletics.” He said his wish now is to claim championship at the national marathon.

Khanje accepted defeat and praised his colleague. “It is painful to see your championship taken away but I congratulate Charles. I really wanted to defend my title but my preparations were not very good,” he said while shaking hands with the new champion adding that this encourages him to do better but also shows that there is still hidden talent in Mulanje that needs to be explored.

Both winners were offered a one night full board accommodation courtesy of Kara O’ Mula Country Lodge in Mulanje.

The race this year, which attracted 304 participants was fully sponsored by NBS Bank to a tune of K1.3 million that included prizes and all administrative costs. The chief executive of the Bank, Mr. John Biziwick said his Bank is excited to be associated with the mountain race and also proud that it is playing a role in bringing out the unnoticed talent in athletics.

“As a caring Bank, we feel honoured to be associated with events like these. Let me assure you all that we are willing to sponsor the race again next year,” said Biziwick amid ululations and handclapping from the over five-thousand crowd that braved the chilly weather to witness the event.

Biziwick said apart from the lovely sport, his Bank is willing to support small scale projects that are aimed and natural resource and environmental management.
“This is your Bank and your Bank needs to be closer to you. While I congratulate the winners today, I would like to call upon everybody here to be associated with NBS Bank in one way or another” said Biziwick adding that plans are underway to open a branch at Likhubula which is a tourist spot.

And the district commissioner for Mulanje Moses Chimphepo thanked NBS Bank for the support and for making the Porters race such a beautiful event. He said the Mulanje District Assembly is always excited that the district is leading in as far as athletics is concerned.

The 304 runners, 112 of whom were women, trekked in a rocky and hazardous route with small paths from Likhubula to Chambe Plateau then along the plateau to Lichenya and descend back from the starting point. In total it requires a total of 11 hours for a good mountain climber to cover such a trek of about 25 kilometres.

The annual Mount Mulanje Porters Race which was in the eleventh anniversary this year has attracted the attention of runners both male and female from all over the world that athletically compete up and across the lovely plateaus of Mount Mulanje. This year it attracted 58 international runners.