By Adonis Byemelwa
Shinyanga- 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.
