adminNalitali is situated between Shangani and Gweru, about 20km south of the Bulawayo-Gweru highway.
Speaking at a recent press conference held at World Monument’s Funds Empire State headquarters recently, WMF president Ms Bonnie Burnham said her organisation had availed a US$5 million grant in support of the programme over the next five years.
“I am enormously pleased to announce that American Express, founding sponsor of the World Monuments Watch, has made a generous new grant of US$5 million in support of the programme over the next five years. WMF is deeply grateful for this new grant, and for the company’s steadfast support of more than 20 years,” said Ms Burnham.
“Since 1996, the biennial watch has drawn international attention to cultural heritage sites in need of assistance, helping to save some of the world’s most treasured places. The 2012 watch includes 67 sites, representing 41 countries and territories.”
Ms Burnham said the 67 sites vividly illustrate the ever-more pressing need to create a balance between heritage concerns, the social, economic and environmental interests of communities around the world.
“Our aim is to promote community cohesion and pride, heritage preservation and to have an especially positive impact on local populations in times of economic distress, for example through employment and the development of well-managed tourism.
“The World Monuments Watch is a call to action on behalf of endangered cultural-heritage sites across the globe. And while these sites are historic, they are also very much of the present integral parts of the lives of the people who come into contact with them every day,” she said.
Ms Burnham said the watch should remind all people in the world of their collective role as stewards of the earth and of its human heritage.
The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe director, Dr Godfrey Mahachi, confirmed the developments.
He, however, said he was yet to be told how much the site would receive and hoped that they would get the funds next month.
“I am not yet sure how much we are going to receive from WMF but I believe that we would be getting communication from the WMF soon. Nalitali needs about US$30 000 for us to do comprehensive restorations as most of its walls have collapsed,” said Dr Mahachi.
He said the country had received funding from WMF before, although some identified cultural heritages were yet to receive the money. “The WMF, which is based in New York, gathers information about sites that are in danger in terms of conservation. A panel from across the world nominates the most deserving sites then seeks funds from the institutions that have to do with heritage sites.
“We did that for Khami Ruins three years ago and we got funding for its restoration. We also did it for Bumbusi in Hwange National Park in the Sinamatela area but unfortunately the World Monuments failed to make the project achievable. We hope Nalitali receives funding soon,” said Dr Mahachi.
He said Nalitali was one of the most decorated and beautiful heritage sites in the country, which was unique and different from other sites.
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