adminNqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
THE National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) has started repairing pillars around the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo statue, which were knocked down by motorists.
NMMZ director Godfrey Mahachi recently said the iconic statue was in danger of being knocked down by motorists.
On Sunday, workmen were at the site removing destroyed bollards and part of the statue’s pedestal.
Mahachi yesterday on Friday said NMMZ met partners that include the Bulawayo City Council and the police, to discuss ways to protect the statue from motorists.
He said the NMMZ hoped the repairs would be completed in time for the Unity Day commemorations on December 22. “From our last meeting on Friday we made it clear that everything has to be done before we go for the Christmas holiday break. If you also noticed that there are some works being done its good,” he said.
Mahachi said measures that will slow motorists as they approached the statue would soon be put in place.
“We need traffic approaching the statue to move at a slower speed. The bollards need to be repaired and the lighting has to be improved. A host of measures are being undertaken by different stakeholders to ensure that the statue is safe,” said Mahachi.
Suggested accident-reducing mechanisms include speed-humps, painting the perimeter of the statue and attaching reflectors.
A few weeks ago, a drag racer rammed his Honda CRV into its pedestal after veering off the road.
The NMMZ wants motorists to pay for the damages on the statue saying it is a national heritage that needs protection.
Motorists have however blamed a sudden curve away from the statue as the major contributor to accidents.
“The road is straight but a few metres from the statue, one realises that they’ve to curve away from it as they would be directly facing its pillars. There should be signs warning drivers about the curve,” a motorist said recently.
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