Karonga Museum sends SOS: Speaker Msowoya pledges support 

Speaker of Parliament, Richard Msowoya and two other Parliamentarians have pledged to help out Cultural Museum Centre Karonga (CMCK), which is appealing for assistance funds to repair a worn-out roof, which threatens the security of fossils including of the dinosaur housed at the museum.

The roof is made from a synthetic material “Onduline” and has been damaged by weather conditions. The museum was constructed 10 years ago to tune of K30 million.

Msowoya told Nyasa Times in an interview he pledged to assist the museum in his personal capacity and as Member of Parliament for Karonga Nyungwe constituency.

“I cannot disclose how much i am pledging, but I have done this in my personal capacity. The museum is housing fossils of national importance, and some were collected in my constituency. We need to preserve our history and ensure that such fossils are well protected,” explained Msowoya.

CMCK Senior Antiquities Officer, Harrison Simfukwe disclosed that they have informed government of the situation and are yet to receive response.

“We wrote government as well as the Office of the President, requesting his presence if possible during our fundraising event in November, and we are yet to receive the response,” said Simfukwe.

Simfukwe however bemoaned lack of funding which has affected operations of the museum including its marketing drive to woo more tourists and increase its visibility as one of the country’s spots for tourism.

Meanwhile, business people in the district have pledged K1 million towards the repairing of the roof. The museum apart from being used to attract tourists, it is regarded as a hub of cultural activities, educational centre and it coordinates all researches done in the district.

CMCK will be holding fundraising activities to raise funds to repair the damaged roof on the 14th and 15th of November 2014.

The Karonga Museum was officially  opened by President Bingu wa Mutharika end of 2004, and since then ten thousands of visitors  have enjoyed the magnificent exhibition “From Dinosaurs to Democracy”.

The innovative structure of the Museum was inspired by the excavated bones of the Malawisaurus that gave prominence to the region and the nation.

The Museum  is  a  successful  cooperation and  partnership  of three  parties:  based  on  a  Memorandum  of understanding   between   Uraha   Foundation Malawi   (UFM)   and   the Malawian   Government.

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