Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
ALGERIA has pledged financial support, a liberation monument and historical artefacts to the Museum of African Liberation in Harare, strengthening efforts to preserve the continent’s liberation heritage.
The commitment was announced yesterday by Major-General (Retired) Abdel Hallouz, Director-General of the Algerian Agency of International Cooperation for Solidarity and Development (AICA), during a meeting with Institute of African Knowledge (INSTAK) chief executive Ambassador Kwame Muzawazi at Liberation City.
Rtd Maj-Gen Hallouz said the Algerian Government was impressed by the initiative and would support the project.
“The highest authorities in Algeria are very supportive, and our country shall extend co-operation and contributions in three areas.
“We shall contribute materially to finalise this tremendous project, we shall build a monument on one acre of land to tell the Algerian liberation story, and we are also putting together artefacts and documents for exhibition in the museum,” he said.
Rtd Maj-Gen Hallouz commended INSTAK for initiating and spearheading the project and described the museum as an important memorial to Africa’s painful colonial experience.
Ambassador Muzawazi welcomed the commitment and said it demonstrated Algeria’s confidence in the project and its determination to contribute towards preserving Africa’s liberation history.
“The visit by the Director-General is a very important demonstration of the support that Algeria is extending towards this project.
“Following His Excellency the President’s invitation to Algeria, we requested three things, and the statement by the Director-General on the three areas of co-operation is very satisfactory and most welcome,” he said.
Ambassador Muzawazi said Algeria occupied a special place in Africa’s liberation history as one of only seven countries on the continent that took up arms to defeat colonialism.
Rtd Maj-Gen Hallouz was accompanied by Algerian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mohamed Seoudi, senior AICA technical experts and embassy officials during the meeting and tour of Liberation City.
The delegation arrived in Zimbabwe yesterday to advance co-operation on the Museum of African Liberation and the construction of a school in Gokwe.
It was received at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by Ambassador Muzawazi and Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary Moses Mhike.
Established in 2020, AICA is a public institution mandated to promote international solidarity and manage development, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, scientific and religious cooperation projects across Africa.
