This week we are here at Tukombo to sensitise the Tukomboans on how to prevent cholera infections. We left Hafu-Wani lodge, Hotel, Inn, or Rest House in Mulanje. We will miss the Mulhako wa Alhomwe cultural display because we consider our mission here urgent and lifesaving.

We have learned that in fact, this day, today, had been set aside for the Mdawuku wa Atonga (Mwato) or Tonga Heritage Trust for its members to showcase traditional cuisine such as maphumu, groundnuts and nkhungu, and dances.

But, we hear, the cultural event has been postponed indefinitely for two reasons. First, the Ministry of Health advised the organisers to consider postponing the event so as to ensure large numbers of people do not come together to eat, dance and sleep and overwhelm the ‘sewage’ system in the area. As such, fear of compromised hygiene practices were at the core of the Ministry’s professional advice.

Second, the Tonga District Council (TDC) banned people congregating in large numbers in Tongaland. Even a church conference planned for Bandawe in the same Tongland was sent packing to Ekwendeni in Ungoni. However, an elevation conference for a smaller church, attended by politicians, was allowed to proceed.

The people of Tongaland respect those in genuine authority and heard the Malawi government’s plea against holding events that had the potential of attracting large crowds. The only exceptions to the TDC ban appeared to be political rallies and mass sensitisation meetings because such rallies attract crowds that cannot infect each other with Covid-19, TB and cholera. Political rallies are patronized by people that are always mindful of the need to stay clean and keep their surroundings clean. Some of them even carry toilets with them.

We are lodged at Kuwirwi Beach Hotel, from where we see in the distance the Islands of Likoma and Chizumulu and, on a good clear day, the coastline of Lake Niassa as our brothers there call Lake Malawi.

The west of the hotel, there is the massive Kuwirwi Mountain, part of the Viphya Mountain range, and source of several perennial rivers that empty into Lake Malawi. Here, we hear, prospectors have found substantial deposits of gold along one of the streams coming from the great Kuwirwi Mountain.

Kuwirwi Mountain forms a very important natural compass for the fishermen. It is shaped in the form of Vs. Fishers have named them V1 to V5. When Kang’ongu, a hill near where the first Scottish Mission Station in Tongaland was erected, is locked at V1, you are closest to lakeshore. At V5, it means you are deep in the lake. If your boat or canoe capsizes there, chances of swimming and getting back to the shore alive are very slim.

Against it fishers are able to locate where the nets were cast even in the deep of night.

We will be here until the cholera outbreak is over. We will be travelling to each village and household to address the people about the causes of cholera and how it spreads. Occasionally, every weekend we will be holding a cholera sensitisation rally at Tukombo ground. All chiefs, all local football and netball teams, dance groups from Likoma, Nkhota Kota, the mighty Paka Tauni Band, and Machuluka Pela will be performing. We will also invite Ingoma from Ungoni and Penanga from Karonga.

You see cholera prevention sensitisation requires large crowds to come together, eat together and dance together. Cholera spreads more during lakeshore cultural festivals. Cholera fears upland area cultural festivals.

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