By Zenak Matekenya

Dedza, September 13, Mana:  The Department of Museums and Monuments has installed a K1.5 million weather station at Chongoni Rock World Heritage Site in Dedza District to preserve rock paintings by Akafula and the Chewa people dating back to 10- 12 AD.

Speaking Thursday, during a day-long disaster risk management training at the site Director of Museums and Monuments Lovemore Mazibuko said historical paintings and writings are among the popular tourism attractions worldwide adding Chongoni has received visitors from different parts of the world.

“The weather station will help us to monitor climatic condition of this area because weather has a direct impact on rock. Too much heat can cause rock participles to wear off especially when the heat is superseded by cooling within a short time,” he said.

He said the launch of the weather station and the training were part of the project called Community Involvement in the Management of Chongoni Rock Art supported by UNESCO, which enlisted Chongoni Rock as a world heritage site in 2006.

He said his department and communities will leave no stone unturned to preserve the 127 painting sites in Dedza and surrounding areas using a plantation of 2650 trees around the rock painting sites as an example.

Group village headman Chakachadza from the area of Senior Chief Kachere said the training will motivate people to appreciate the value of the sites and strive to preserve them.

He said he would sensitize fellow chiefs and communities to the importance of the sites citing job creation and trade among other benefits.

Headteacher for Chilamba Primary School Makaka Crifford Nkhoma hailed the initiative saying it plays a vital role in preserving the history of Akafula and Chewa people.

Other threats to the art rocks include deforestation, graffiti, birds dropping, animal grazing and smoke from fires made by communities in the curves.

The training focused on disaster preparedness, response, impact, recovery and mitigation.