Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke-Herald Correspondent
ZIMBABWEANS have been challenged to reclaim Africa’s rightful place in global history and confront long-standing distortions that have marginalised blacks’ contributions to civilisation, science and technology.
This was said by Institute of African Knowledge (INSTAK) Ambassador Kwame Muzawazi at the official opening of Black History Month in Harare yesterday.
He said the commemorations were about restoring historical truth and rebuilding African self-belief.
“This Black History Month is a period of celebrating the greatness of Africa,” he said.
“We are demonstrating that Africa has been the undisputed leader in technology and civilisation.”
Institute of African Knowledge (INSTAK) Ambassador Kwame Muzawazi
Black History Month, celebrated annually in February (in the US/Canada) or October (in the UK), is a dedicated time to honour the achievements and central role of black people in history.
It focuses on celebrating triumphs while acknowledging struggles against racism and the ongoing, often neglected, contributions to global society.
The 2026 Black History Month theme is, “A century of Black history commemorations”.
During the launch, guests took turns touring posters that show how blacks have played a central role in the civilisation of the world.
Ambassador Muzawazi said evidence across major scientific and technological fields showed that Africa played a central role, but this had been deliberately erased from mainstream education.
“Unfortunately, this has been removed from the content of our educational curriculum. There are effective lies being spread,” he said.
“If you take, for example, one book that must be banned The Students’ Companion, it has a list of scientists and discoverers which we were memorising in school, not even one of them is black. All of them are white.”
Ambassador Muzawazi warned that such narratives conditioned African children to believe innovation was exclusive to other races.
“Our children end up thinking that only a white person can discover something,” he said.
“This exhibition and Black History Month are presenting the right position, the correct position, which should become the mainstream position.”
He dismissed portrayals of African history as one of despair, saying: “The history of the Africa is not a history of darkness, doom and death, it is actually a history of glory and colour.”
Ambassador Muzawazi said Africans must move forward decisively.
“We must embrace and move forward. We must organise, not agonise. We must take charge, take the bull by the horns and move forward without apology in pursuing our destiny.”
Zanu PF Secretary for Finance Cde Patrick Chinamasa, Council of Elders chairman Cde Sydney Sekeramayi, Politburo member Cde Mike Bimha, Government officials and diplomats are led on a tour of a landmark exhibition on Black History Month by Institute of African Knowledge CEO Ambassador Kwame Muzawazi at the Heritage Village in Harare yesterday. — Picture: Memory Mangombe.
ZANU PF Deputy Secretary for Security in the Politburo Cde Tendai Chirau said commemorating Black history was vital in light of historical injustices such as slavery and colonialism.
“It is very, very significant,” he said. “Blacks were affected by a lot of historical injustices, which include the slave trade and colonialism.”
He said Black History Month was equally about celebrating African intellectual and civilisational achievements.
“There are people, Africans, who set up the foundation in terms of civilisation and development theories in academia,” he said.
“We need to celebrate ourselves and believe that we are created in the same way as other human beings.”
Cde Chirau said self-belief was key to Africa’s future, aligning this with the national development philosophy being championed by President Mnangagwa.
“What is also important is the philosophy that His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, is preaching, that we must have self-belief as Africans,” he said.
“We can do anything. We can be mothers of innovation.”
He said Government initiatives such as the establishment of innovation hubs at universities were rooted in this philosophy.
“These innovation hubs are motivated by the understanding that Blacks were able to come up with many innovations,” he said.
