If you are passionate about historical heritage, you are doing yourself a disservice if you have not visited Kaso Bible Monument.
Located at Kaso Hill at Mvera in Dowa district, Kaso Bible Monument is one of the country’s historic places where the King James Bible Version was first translated into Chinyanja by missionaries Reverend Andrew Charles Murray and William Murray with the help of local missionaries.
Records from the Church of Central African Presbyterian (CCAP) Nkhoma Synod show that the translation took almost 22 years from 1900 to 1922.
Led by Reverend Andrew Charles Murray, the translators erected structures and camped at the site to commit themselves to the translation job.
In an interview with ProjectM, CCAP Nkhoma Synod General Secretary Reverend Vasco Kachipapa-Banda said the translators did an excellent job as the translation opened new fronts for local missionaries.
The General Secretary added that the translation remains relevant even 102 years after it was first unveiled.
“The Holy Bible or Buku Lopatulika as it is fondly described in Chichewa carries cultural identity and has over the years promoted unity among Malawians,” said Reverend Kachipapa.
The General Secretary has since called on Malawians to patronise the site which he described as important in the country’s history of religion in the country.
“This place is a National Monument and we would love if necessary works or attention is put in place to ensure that the place befit a national monument,” said Kachipapa.
Asked on what the Synod is doing to preserve the history, the Reverend revealed that plans are underway to construct tourism related establishments that will among others contain the history of the place and accommodation places where people can relax.
“We have already put in place necessary plans to have the place fully utilized as a tourism site,” he added.
Seasoned journalist, who comes from Mvera, Howard Mlozi has on several occasions described the Kaso Bible Monument as a treasure to the people of the area.
“As someone from Mvera, I regard the site as one of the most important sites,” said Mlozi through his Facebook platform.
In 2022, President Lazarus Chakwera directed that Kaso Hill be turned into a national monument.
Dr Chakwera tasked the Ministry of Tourism to do everything possible for the place to fit a National Monument.
