Tanzania drags Kenya into Mt Kilimanjaro 'ownership' dispute
Jul. 20, 2016, 9:00 am
By WILLIAM MWANGI,
@memwarwilliams
Mount Kilimanjaro is seen behind Maasai women carrying firewood outside Amboseli National Park, southeast of Nairobi, March 26, 2016. /REUTERS
Tanzania has pulled Kenya into a debate over the ownership of Kilimanjaro after a US-based media house published a story alleging the mountain is in the latter's territory.
In a statement, the Tanzania Tourism Board (TTB) refuted the claims by Cara Anna, an Associate press reporter for Miami Herald.
The publication carried an article on July 18 suggesting that renowned South African rally driver Guguleth Zulu, died while trying to summit 'Kenya's Mt Kilimanjaro'.
"We would like to correct this misleading information issued by Miami Herald, that Mt Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania and not in Kenya," the board said.
"TTB has contacted Miami Herald and has demanded that they issue a correct statement via the same media they used to issue the misleading information about the location of Mt Kilimanjaro so as to put it clear to the international community that Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania."
Zulu, 38, died on Monday while attempting to climb the volcanic mountain in Tanzania during the Trek4Mandela expedition.
In his last Facebook post last Saturday, the three-times national rally champion posted he had flu-like symptoms.
"Made it though (stet) day 2. My wife is doing fabulous, she has even learnt the local language. Am having flu-like symptoms and struggling with the mountain but taking it step by step. Today we managed to see our destination and our camp is literary above the clouds." he said.
The claim comes as Uganda's row with Kenya over Migingo Island in Lake Victoria is yet to be resolved, years after the dispute came to the public limelight following the eviction of some 400 Kenyan fishermen.
The row was sparked by Uganda's demand that the group pays Sh50,000 ($649) 'annual operation fee'.
Kenya has stood its ground that the acre-sized island belongs to it but the Ugandan flag has been flying on the island for some time now.