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Joseph Madzimure-Senior Reporter
THE National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Heroes Shrines Services and Education Trust (ZIHSSET) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Harare to preserve heritage sites in and out of the country.
The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe was represented by its director Dr Godfrey Mahachi who signed the MoU on behalf the organisation while ZIHSSET was represented by its chairperson Cde Washington Bangalila
ZIHSSET is an organisation that provides education to Zimbabweans on history, heritage and cultural traditions targeting the youths.
The MOU is meant for the two institutions to work collaboratively in ensuring that some liberation war heritage shrines both within Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries are given due attention in terms of maintenance and development.
The idea is for the trust to assist the Government through the National Museums and Monuments in mobilising resources, where possible, so that they target those shrines that require refurbishment and maintenance.
A year ago, the two parties collaborated in Chimoio, Mozambique for the purposes of provision of clean water to both visitors to the shrine and the neighbouring community.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr Mahachi said they are formalising the relationship that exists between the two parties.
“We are looking towards building ablution facilities, putting up other structures and amenities that will make it possible for visitors to have the comfort that one will expect when you get to a shrine of the magnitude of Chimoio, Nyadzonya and Freedom camp.
“So this is really the intention of the MOU for us to work with the civil society in addressing some of the challenges that you find at our liberation heritage sites”.
The MOU is meant to shape the framework of the parameters of the cooperation as they move into the future in terms of how they work together in the protection, development and conservation of our various heritage sites and those that are associated with the Zimbabwe liberation struggle.
“We will be guided very specifically by the MOU because that is what defines how we will do it.
“The MOU enables both parties to know that they are now formal partners who assist in shouldering the responsibility of looking after our important national heritage, of developing that heritage and ensuring that those who use that heritage especially visitors to our heritage sites do so under the guidance of people who knowledgeable”.
One of the areas the trust will focus on is ensuring that school pupils and other visitors visit Zimbabwe’s heritage shrines in neighbouring countries and within the country.
“By giving the trust this responsibility through this MoU, the assumption that the Government makes in approving this MoU is that we will take those responsibilities as diligently as possible. We will be diligent to the extent that the general people of Zimbabwe and others will appreciate why the Government approved this kind of arrangement,”.
He called upon the trust to be diligent when it comes to dissemination of information.
“The information that is being disseminated must be correct information, it must be information that inspires Zimbabweans not only to appreciate their heritage, but to be motivated by that information for purposes of being patriotic in everything they do within their country,”.
Cde Bangalila hailed the thrust shown by the Government in signing the MoU.
“I am very happy to sign this MOU, it is a milestone to us. We are going to do our best in line with the Government’s plans through the National Museums and Monuments. Since we have done more before the signing ceremony of this MOU.
“We hope that we are going to something which the country will emulate,”
He said their organisation will work towards fulfilling various developmental projects in and outside the countries such as Zambia and Mozambique.
Online Reporter