Ready your hiking gear for April 28
NHLANGANO – Hiking sport lovers must get their hiking gear ready for the Mahamba Gorge Hiking on April 28, 2024. .
The 10th edition of the Mahamba Gorge Hiking Sport, which will take place at Mahamba Gorge, was officially launched by Minister of Tourism Jane Mkhonta in Nhlangano. The event was also attended by Acting Eswatini Tourism Authority Simphiwe Ngubeni and stakeholders who included sponsors.
This year’s hiking is themed ‘NKWEEEE!! Let’s invest to prevent Gender-Based Violence’.
It was said that the two-day event would start with a family fun day; a relaxed event to create awareness on gender-based violence (GBV) with local artists and comedy shows as well as pre-gorge hiking Music Festival later in the afternoon. It will be graced by SA artist Aymos from Amapiano Mix. The following day, on Sunday, would be the main hiking event, with Gospel Sunday.
Speaking during the launch of the event, Minister Mkhonta as highlighted in His Majesty’s Speech from the Throne, tourism was among the key sectors identified for economic recovery in the country.
She said as a ministry, they applauded and encouraged any innovative initiatives that supported tourism and contributed towards their goal of transforming the economy.
The minister said with the rise of GBV incidents in the Shiselweni Region, the Mahamba Gorge Hiking theme of preventing GBV was a continued support to government’s effort of ending GBV and raise awareness against any form of violence.
“Every single day, the country wakes up to very disturbing headlines on either the brutal murder of a woman or girlfriend as well as cases of a child being raped in a domestic setting. In addition, the National Surveillance report shows an increase of 20 per cent in GBV cases between the years 2020 and 2023,” she said.
The minister further shared that the Shiselweni Region alone recorded 1 912 GBV and violence against children cases in 2023 alone, which was very concerning. This, she said, prompted government to contribute to the move towards ending GBV by providing platforms of engagement and raising awareness on the scourge, through the Mahamba Gorge Hiking.
Appreciated
The minister appreciated the committee members of Mahamba Gorge Hiking and all strategic stakeholders for their efforts in ensuring the success of the event. “The Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs is willing to cooperate and support in whatever means necessary to ensure the advancement of all tourism initiatives,” she said.
Deputy Prime Minister’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Mpendulo Masuku shared that GBV cases had been escalating over the past four years. He said there were 13 000 cases in 2020 and they increased to 17 000 in 2022. He, however, shared that there was an improvement in 2023, as they had 10 600 cases reported countrywide to the different organisations and police.
This, Masuku said, was an improvement compared to the previous years. He further shared that there were 2 000 cases of GBV reported in the Shiselweni Region in 2023, but the number was low compared to other regions like Hhohho, where there were 7 000 cases. The most notable form of abuse, he said, was physical, followed by sexual and emotional.
The Shiselweni regional administrator, who was represented by his Secretary Bheki Thwala said as a region, they took pride in having given birth to such an extraordinary iconic hiking initiative that touched the lives of the most vulnerable people of the region. “All the positives show that this programme is indeed meeting its objective of changing the lives of the needy people of the region,” he added.
Elders
Over the past 10 years, the hiking programme has supported several initiatives, including building houses for the destitute. These include OVCs, people with disabilities and the most vulnerable elders at Mahlashaneni, Nsalitje, Magele, Mangwaneni and Masibini.
Profits from the hiking event have previously supported livelihoods at Masibini, Simemeni, Dlovunga and Mzizi chiefdoms, which are under the Maseyisini Constituency. There was also food aid support to the Shiselweni constituencies, including the Mahamba Gorge Hiking households as well continued support to the Hlatikhulu Girls’ Home, through support from Eswatini Royal Insurance Corporation.
It was said there was also a construction of a washing basin and maintenance of kitchen roofing and wall painting, with support from Shiselweni Forest Company and the hosting of crime prevention dialogues in communities and schools among other projects.