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Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
In a groundbreaking collaboration, the US Embassy and National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) celebrated the completion of a significant project to digitally preserve and manage the collections at the Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences.
The project, funded by the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), has resulted in the creation of a cloud-based database aimed at safeguarding thousands of cultural artifacts at risk of loss or theft.
At a commissioning ceremony held on Thursday, US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Pamela Tremont said the project was key in enhancing both local and global access to Zimbabwe’s unique cultural heritage.
“This collection management system will allow Zimbabweans and the global community to access, research, and better understand the museum’s significant and unique cultural artifacts,” said Ambassador Tremont.
“This collaboration underscores the strength of cultural exchange and highlights the shared responsibility we all have to preserve our histories for future generations.”
The US$75 000 AFCP grant, awarded in 2020, has facilitated the transition from a manual catalogue system to a more secure, accessible, and modern digital format.
The move will not only reduce the risk of theft and damage but will also spur greater interaction between the museum and the public, scholars, and students worldwide.
The project has seen a fruitful partnership between the Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences, the Fowler Museum at the University of Southern California, and the Harare Institute of Technology.
Experts from both Zimbabwe and the US worked together to develop a user-friendly, web-based database that meets international standards for research and inter-museum loans.
“The successful completion of this project is a testament to what we can achieve when we bring together expertise from around the world to protect and celebrate our shared cultural heritage,” Ambassador Tremont said.
The Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation has been a critical tool in preserving cultural heritage worldwide for nearly 25 years.
Since 2007, the US government has invested nearly US$950 000 in supporting heritage projects in Zimbabwe, with US$846 000 dedicated to initiatives involving NMMZ.
This latest initiative is expected to significantly enhance the museum’s ability to document, preserve, and share Zimbabwe’s invaluable cultural treasures with the world.
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