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Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services has made submissions to Parliament for Government to expedite the construction of the Liberation War Museum from where the story of the liberation struggle can wholesomely be told.
The call was made in a report of the committee on the benchmark visit to Namibia on welfare of veterans of the liberation struggle presented by Beitbridge East Member of Parliament Cde Albert Nguluvhe in Parliament last week.
The Portfolio Committee conducted the benchmarking visit to Namibia last year with the purpose of understanding the laws and institutions in place to address the welfare of veterans of the liberation struggle in Namibia.
The benchmark visit sought to appreciate the challenges, benefits and empowerment programmes in place for veterans of the liberation struggle in Namibia as well as learn best practices that can be adopted for the Zimbabwean situation.
With the country left with a few days to celebrate Independence Day, liberation war veterans and the history of the liberation struggle remain key in the country’s remembrance of the journey that it travelled.
“By December 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, through the Department of National Museums and Monuments, should have mobilised resources to construct a liberation war museum meant to preserve the history of the liberation struggle for the benefit of present and future generations,” said Cde Nguluvhe.
The Government of Zimbabwe through the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe has already embarked on a project to establish the Zimbabwe Liberation War Museum at the National Heroes Acre in Harare.
According to the National Museums and Monuments, the goal of the museum is to foster a sense of pride in the collective memory, history and achievements of the people of Zimbabwe in fighting colonial conquest.
The museum is expected to unpack the rich tangible and intangible heritage created by the sacrifices and commitment of freedom fighters, communities’ institutions and individuals to the liberation of Zimbabwe.
The National Museums and Monuments has already called upon everyone with information and materials related to Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle to come forward to the nearest National Museum and Monuments office for recording and submissions. In addition, teams will also be carrying out information and artefacts gathering exercise in all provinces and districts.
Meanwhile, the Portfolio Committee also implored on Government to expedite the conferment of war medals among other improvements in the life of war veterans.
“The Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs must expedite conferment of war or independence medals in recognition and honour of the work and sacrifice made by veterans of the liberation struggle. Furthermore, a podium should always be reserved for veterans of the liberation struggle at Heroes Day commemorations and any related events of national significance. The ministry should consider and adopt the idea of erecting tombstones with a trademark for all veterans of the liberation struggle buried across the country,” said Cde Nguluvhe.
Bongani Ndlovu