SITE TOUR OF THE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN LIBERATION: This morning…

Heritage. The visit is another milestone on the consolidation of an Afrocentric outlook on the part of the Second Republic. Only a day before, the President toured the site housing the plinth on which the statue of Mbuya Nehanda will be erected. During the visit, he made

...far-reaching suggestions which will guide artists working on the statue. The first artistic effort has triggered vigorous debate as Zimbabweans proffer ideas and appreciation on how the statue should look. The statue of Mbuya Nehanda in Parliament appears to be the more

...favoured as a prototype of the creative effort. The Parliament Statue depicts the First Chimurenga heroine in her later, elderly stage in life, presumably when she was already in settler captivity.

The site, says the President, will house four projects: a statue representing African Liberation Movements, the Museum, a Conference facility and an amusement park. The President recounted systematic imperialist history of Africa which depicted it as a Dark Home whose inhabitants

...deserved to be enslaved, colonized and exploited. That derisive history did not dampen the African urge to fight for Independence and freedom. The President added that negatives like illegal sanctions and proxy wars are meant to distract Africa while the West continues to

...pillage and exploit the Continent. The President challenged African scholars and media to re-narrativize Africa, recognizing the grandeur of the Continent and her multidimensional heritage, including ideology, science and values. History is not meant to entrap and freeze

Africa in her past, however hallowed; it is meant to urge Africa to use her History to move forward as a self-aware continent, added the President. He called for the rekindling of the wartime fish/water symbiosis between African fighters, Govts and the masses.

The President also received first batch of artifacts from leading protagonists of the Zimbabwe Liberation Struggle who included late Vice Presidents Simon Muzenda, Nkomo and Msika, and from late Zanla COD, Cde Josiah Magama Tongogara whose pistol is now part of the Museum’s

...collection. Also included was late Tongo’s combat uniform. The Takawira Family donated a trunk which the late used at Sikombela, and a small radio he used for monitoring news. Additional artifacts came from Amai Takawira, a heroine, including her rosary. Father Ribeiro donated

...an old television set bought in 1957 by late Nyanhete, a priest, which became a community focal point. The set would be used to cover up for political meetings by leading nationalists who included late JM Nkomo and Robert Mugabe. Father Ribeiro was President Mnangagwa’s priest

...during his days of incarceration. Professor Simbi Mubako taught the President Constitutional Law at University of Zambia after the latter’s release from Prison in 1973/74. The President got a distinction in that subject.