Chronicle Editor
Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Reporter
THE Government’s decision to immortalise contributions made by the country’s liberators has been commended by citizens who say its a good move meant to preserve history.
President Mnangagwa said during Heroes Day commemorations that Government was erecting statues of liberation icons of the First and Second Chimurenga/Umvukela to immortalise their supreme sacrifices towards the liberation of Zimbabwe.
Cde Mnangagwa said the Government will also review the list of national monuments to include battle sites, national and provincial Heroes’ Acres, Assembly Points as well as former detention and restriction centres.
Zimbabwe, according to officials, has the second highest number of monuments in Africa after Egypt and these heritage sites can bring in a lot of foreign currency if they are properly marketed.
In a statement posted on social media platform Facebook, King Lobengula’s descendant Mr Peter Zwide Khumalo said Government should be lauded for putting the country’s history into perspective.
“The Zimbabwean Government has recognised and declared Pupu battle site as a national shrine.
“This is in recognition of the Imbizo Regiment under the astute command of General Mtshana Khumalo. Queen Lozikeyi is also recognised for her spiritual role in that battle when colonial forces were defeated and other battles such as the 1896 Uprising led by Prince Nyamanda, son of King Lobengula,” said Mr Khumalo.
He said the recognition of the spiritual content of Pupu battle site was long overdue but it’s better late than never.
Mr Khumalo said Government should be commended for realising what the legacy of the battle of Pupu means to the people of Umthwakazi region.
Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, said the creation of monuments will complete the Zimbabwean liberation story.
He said the statues and monuments will not only assist present and future generations understand the liberation struggle history but even those visiting the country will understand it better.
“From that perspective we are saying that someone who is coming to visit our country will understand our history better.
“In Africa Zimbabwe comes second to Egypt in terms of number of monuments and historic sites. We therefore believe identifying monuments and erecting staues will support and assist explain our heritage,” said Minister Ndlovu.
He said tourists don’t just want to see Victoria Falls and other such attactions but also want to understand Zimbabweans’ values and their history.
“This is where our monuments play a pivotal role in supporting tourism,” said Minister Ndlovu.
Historian Mr Pathisa Nyathi commended Government for taking deliberate steps to honour the country’s heroes.
Mr Nyathi however said erecting statues of liberation icons and identifying monuments should complement moves to decolonise the mind.
“We need to interrogate what colonialism has done to the minds of the people. We might have removed Ian Smith and Cecil John Rhodes but some minds are still colonised.
“We therefore need to apart from erecting statues and identifying monuments, work on decolonising the mind,” said Mr Nyathi. — @nqotshili
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