Online Reporter
Richard Muponde
Zimpapers Politics Hub
FORMER African union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has endorsed Zimbabwe’s Liberation City project, describing it as a vital initiative to preserve Africa’s history and identity.
Dr Dlamini-Zuma toured the 101-hectare Liberation City in Harare on Monday.
The multi-purpose development includes the Museum of African Liberation, a Heritage Village, a Liberation Mall, an African-themed amusement park, an animal park, a five-star hotel, and presidential villas.
The Institute of African Knowledge (INSTAK) is spearheading the project with support from the Government of Zimbabwe.
Following her tour, Dr Dlamini-Zuma praised the project, highlighting its importance.
“I think this is a fantastic project, because Africa must have its story, its history. What I also like is that it is being built by Africans in Zimbabwe.
“We are not asking other people from other continents to come and build it for us; we’re building it ourselves,” Dr Dlamini-Zuma said.
“It also reclaims our identity. But more importantly, it tells of our journey in terms of our liberation because this freedom was not free. So for me, I’m very impressed, really.”
She also applauded INSTAK’s efforts to sustain the museum through commercial ventures.
“I also like the concept of having commercial ventures that support the Museum, because the Museum must be very cheap for people to come in so that nobody can say ‘I want to go to the Museum but I don’t have money to pay’. So I think it’s an excellent idea; I’m very impressed,” she said.
INSTAK Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Kwame Muzawazi, who took Dr Dlamini-Zuma through the tour, thanked her for her continued support.
“In particular, as Chairperson of the African union Commission, Her Excellency played a key role in the publication of the first ever Africa Factbook.
“Under Dr Nkosazana Dhlamini-Zuma’s leadership, the AU endorsed and internalised INSTAK’s activities as critical components of AU programmes aligned to education, heritage and memory preservation and promotion,” Ambassador Muzawazi said.
“Her endorsement today of the work we are doing here with the support of His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Government of Zimbabwe emboldens us and encourages us to go further and do more for Africans everywhere.”
The AU, SADC and several governments have endorsed INSTAK’s Liberation City project, with the Africa Factbook, released in 2020, as one of its key achievements- @muponderichard.
Online Reporter