RESIDENTS in Kanyigo and Kashenye wards in Missenyi District, Kagera Region in Northwest Tanzania, have been urged to take care of historic heritage sites, so that generation after generation could identify their origin and use it for moral values in fostering their lives.
The call was made recently by Dr Daniel Ndagala, an anthropologist and owner of Kanyigo museum for artefacts, and coordinator of sightseeing during the walking tour, visiting historical and interesting sites found in those two wards with the aim of promoting and attracting foreigners to the site.
The sightseeing event brought more than 100 people, school children and adults whereby the natives gave the history of the respective areas, while the experts gave professional information about the aspects of economy and development.
Prof. Benezeth Mutayoba, a scholar also advised on the best use of land, while learned lawyer Joseph Abel, who is a tourism stakeholder, explained his experience from visiting the tourist areas of Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara, Tarangire, Ruaha and Rubondo, and advised if tourism attractions he saw on the famous visit are further publicized they will bring local and foreign tourists as they have beautiful scenery.
The visit begun at Kikukwe village in Kanyigo ward along Lake Victoria, at the site where the Haya people were making high grade medium carbons steel 20,000 years ago, 400 years before the sophisticated technology was replicated to Europe. An anthropologist Peter Schimidt had gathered evidence through a combination of arche and oral tradition that the Haya has been smelting iron ore to make carbon steel.
Some other sites visited were Nyabugaro cave paintings in Bugombe villages, Julieth Botanical Garden in Bukwali village (Kashenye ward), and Kanyigo museum where artefacts are preserved.
Dr Bdagala advised teachers to guide their students to visit historical sites to learn various things, while considering maintenance, and advised village leaders to manage bylaws to preserve the sites.
He further said that, the sightseeing event was also to support the President Samia Suluhu Hassan with her Royal Tour to bring more tourists in the country, to visit Kanyigo and Kashenye attractions.
Julius Kassano, one of those who inspired the tour that also attracted brother Emmanuel Mwambe from Mtwara Mikindani, leading a team of 11 people and seven children, said the goal is to stimulate development and solidarity, meet together and discuss economic opportunities.
According to Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), number of tourists increased in January to May 2023 by 458,048 comparing to 317,270 in 2021 the same period.
The number has increased to 3.5 million in 2023, and is expected to receive 5 million tourists by 2025 with an income of USD 6bn.
By Mutayoba Arbogast, Bukoba, Tanzania
