adminGeorge Maponga Masvingo Bureau
Chiefs from around the Great Zimbabwe monuments have criticised the National Museums and Monuments in Zimbabwe (NMMZ) for failing to officially inform them about circumstances surrounding a veld fire that recently left a trail of destruction at the World Heritage Site. The veld fire torched the entire landscape inside the monuments, destroying three lodges and ablution facilities before it was finally doused by the fire brigade with assistance from the police and people from the local community.
Three chiefs who jointly claim jurisdiction over the monuments have accused the NMMZ leadership at Great Zimbabwe of failing to officially inform them about the fire. The three chiefs, Chief Charumbira, Chief Nemanwa and Chief Mugabe, constitute the Great Zimbabwe Monuments local traditional leaders’ committee.
Chief Mugabe (Mr Matubede Mudavanhu) yesterday accused the NMMZ leadership at the monuments of disrespecting them by failing to consult them after the inferno. He said as traditional custodians of the monuments, the NMMZ was supposed to officially inform them about the fire mishap to pave way for joint efforts to stop a similar incident from occurring again.
“It is almost over two weeks since the veld fire left a trail of destruction at Great Zimbabwe, but we are not happy that as the custodians of the monuments we are yet to be officially briefed about the circumstances surrounding the fire,’’ he said.
Chief Mugabe said curbing veld fires and the straying of livestock into the monuments, among other challenges, required cooperation between the NMMZ and the local traditional leadership.
NMMZ Masvingo regional director Mr Lovemore Mandima said the chiefs’ representatives were told to convey the message about the fire mishap to the three traditional leaders.
Online Reporter