malvernmugadzikwa
Jerry Chifamba
THE Government is converting a wing of Connemara Open Correctional Institution — a historical detention centre for nationalists during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle — into a museum by mid-March 2025.
During the tour of the institution on Wednesday, Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube said the initiative aims to preserve the country’s history and highlight the brutality faced by liberation fighters.
“As we reflect on our painful past, these heritage sites inspire our collective determination to modernise and industrialise our economy,” he said.
The Connemara facility, one of four significant heritage sites in the Midlands province, previously housed prominent nationalists, including the late Leopold Takawira and Edgar Tekere.
The museum will feature murals that tell the story of the liberation struggle while maintaining the site’s original character.
The director of National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe, Mr Clapperton Gutu, said that the project is in progress, with a budget secured and a procurement team mobilised to enhance the facility.
“It’s now work in progress. We want to put murals on the walls, which will unpack the story of the liberation struggle.
“The budget is now there, and the procurement team is on the move.
“There are a lot of touch-ups to be done, but we don’t want the detention centre to lose its originality.
“This way, we will be able to preserve our rich history by highlighting the brutality that was unleashed on our liberation heroes by the settler regime,” said Mr Gutu.
Midlands province will this year host the Independence day celebrations at Mutora Business Centre, further highlighting its historical importance in Zimbabwe’s journey to independence.
Online Reporter