Africa Unity Square to be redesigned

played by the heroes of the country’s liberation war to replace the outlook of the park has already been designed.
The Africa Unity Square, formerly known as Cecil Square in colonial Rhodesia, resembles the British flag, the Union Jack.
The Zanu-PF Politburo has since discussed the eminent changes, which are now being spearheaded by the revolutionary party’s cultural department.
Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo is also involved in the matter.
Zanu-PF spokesperson, Cde Rugare Gumbo, confirmed on Friday that the party intended to erase the Africa Unity Square.
“The issue was discussed in a Politburo meeting preceding the extraordinary one held recently,” Cde Gumbo said.
“It is all to do with de-colonisation. It is a good idea.”
On why it had taken Zanu-PF almost 30 years to demolish one of the last symbols of British colonialism, Cde Gumbo said: “everything is a process”.
Cde Gumbo said the party had focused on Africa Unity Square because of its history.
Other remnants of colonialism that have not been corrected include Pioneer Column’s Colonel Penny Father Lane on which the Zanu-PF headquarters is built.
“That (Africa Unity Square) is where the British hoisted their flag when they came to Zimbabwe so it is important that we start there. We can always change names anytime but the symbolism of the design at Africa Unity Square is greater,” he said.
The Africa Unity Square is linked to the Pioneer Column, which upon entering the country hoisted the Union Jack in the park sandwiched between Parliament Building and Meikles Hotel in Harare’s Central Business District.
History has it that at 10am on September 13, 1890 members of the Pioneer Column tied the Union Jack at the end of a Msasa pole and hoisted it in the centre of the park before offering a prayer and firing salutes from two field guns.
They had to use the Union Jack because everyone thought someone else had brought the British South African Company flag, which was a Union Jack with the BSAC crest at the centre, but no one had it in his wagon.
That was the beginning of the Cecil Square, renamed Africa Unity Square after independence.