By The Respondent Reporter
Moshi-
As the sun rises over the majestic slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, a dark cloud
looms over the thousands of porters who call this legendary peak their
workplace. Edson Mpemba, a pivotal figure in the lives of these workers, has
raised a clarion call, drawing attention to a distressing trend: the rapid
erosion of job opportunities for porters on Tanzania’s most iconic mountain.
At
a recent press conference in Moshi, Mpemba's voice echoed the deepening crisis,
revealing a landscape of growing unemployment and discontent among the porters
who once thrived in Kilimanjaro’s bustling tourism economy.
As he shared his concerns and frustrations, it
became clear that the survival of these hardworking individuals—and the local
tourism industry itself—is now precariously hanging in the balance.
"I've
been losing sleep trying to understand why jobs on Mount Kilimanjaro are
vanishing and how we can save our porters who are now facing severe
hardships," Mpemba stated. The decline is attributed to a foreign-backed
initiative known as the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), which
Mpemba accuses of undermining local tour operators by labeling them as
irresponsible.
KPAP's
influence has led to a significant shift in the local tourism market, with
foreign travel agents now promoting their affiliated tour companies over local
businesses. As a result, Tanzanian tour operators, who heavily rely on these
agents to attract tourists, have seen their business dwindling.
"The
local tour companies are losing market share due to KPAP's smear
campaign," Mpemba added. "Our porters are bearing the brunt of this
crisis as job opportunities dry up."
Local
tour operator Yona Samwel of Almighty Kilimanjaro Ltd. echoed these concerns,
criticizing KPAP for allegedly disparaging non-affiliated companies.
"KPAP's campaign has damaged our reputation, forcing us to either partner
with them or risk losing business altogether. This raises serious questions
about the fairness of this arrangement," Samwel said.
He
highlighted that KPAP’s website lists 150 tour companies as
"responsible," with 105 being foreign entities and only 45 local
firms. This distribution has sparked outrage among local operators, who argue
that the presence of foreign companies contradicts the 2008 Tanzanian Tourism
Act, which mandates that Mount Kilimanjaro climbing operations be exclusive to
local operators.
"Why
is KPAP allowed to vet foreign companies for Mount Kilimanjaro operations when
Tanzanian law clearly states otherwise?" Samwel questioned. He has called
on the government to investigate the situation urgently to prevent further
damage to local businesses and protect the livelihoods of thousands of porters,
tour guides, and cooks.
The
Tanzania Porters Organization (TPO) Executive Secretary, Mr. Loshiye Mollel,
added that KPAP’s role was initially to protect porter rights but has seemingly
expanded into regulatory areas typically managed by the government.
In
response, KPAP’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kelvin Salla, defended the
organization’s role. "KPAP is focused on promoting responsible tourism and
supporting companies that meet our certification criteria. We do not engage in
marketing or promotional campaigns," Salla said.
He
clarified that the foreign companies listed on their website are partners with
certified local firms, thus aligning with KPAP's goal of fostering responsible
tourism practices.
The ongoing dispute highlights a growing tension between local and foreign entities within Tanzania's tourism sector. As the debate continues, the future of Kilimanjaro’s porters and the local tour industry hangs in the balance.