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Joseph Madzimure
Senior Reporter
MORE resources will be allocated by Government towards the completion of the Museum of African Liberation in Harare to honour fallen veterans of the continent’s liberation wars, the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube said yesterday.
The museum, which is currently under construction, will feature a five-star hotel, amusement park, Zimbabwe Defence Forces exhibition park and a shopping mall.
The museum is expected to house material from all African countries which waged armed struggles to liberate themselves and include countries that may not have taken up arms, but were instrumental in the liberation period.
The museum will also help document the wars fought in Africa in its quest for self-governance. It is being spearheaded by an African think tank, Institute of African Knowledge, in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe and some other African counties.
The museum will depict the epic struggle to liberate the African people from colonialism and apartheid.
Speaking during a tour of the project, Prof Ncube confirmed that the Government will allocate more resources towards the completion of the project.
“As Government we have been funding the project. We will allocate more resources to the project. There will be some budget allocation for the construction of the museum,” said Prof Ncube.
The Museum of African Liberation is on a 103ha site known as Liberation City, whose construction has already started.
Prof Ncube said: “Being the person who is looking after the country’s finances, I am also worried about whether they will make money or not and they assured me that there is a full, credible business plan here. There will be a hotel. There are money making activities that support the museum as a centre of curatorship of our history. I am very pleased with what I see. There is also a nice commanding site, a very good height to see the good part of Harare”.
He said he was impressed with progress at the site.
“Today I visited the Museum of African Liberation, this is where we are really showcasing and telling the African story. There is very good progress from a few years ago. First of all, a demonstration of what the museum will eventually look like in terms of artefacts.
“The main museum that I went through is really touching. It captures the spirit of liberation in terms of the artefacts that were displayed, but also the idea of allowing ordinary citizens to come forward to record their stories in a way that enriches the liberation story”.
During the tour, Prof Ncube was accompanied the Institute of African Knowledge chief executive Ambassador Kwame Muzawazi and its chairman Professor Simbi Mubako.
“It’s actually commendable to have such a facility here. I toured the building site. I am pleased to see the vision unfolding right in front of our eyes.
“The first floor of the museum building is done, and the second and third floors are also coming. So there is steady progress at the construction site,” he said.
Once complete, there will be a cable car to ferry visitors from the Museum of African Liberation to the National Heroes Acre.
This will bring the historical sites together.
The Liberation City is projected to be a family-friendly attraction for both local, regional and international tourists who will enjoy history, heritage, recreational, commercial and amusement facilities to be established at the new complex.
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