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Columbus Mabika
Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe and Mozambique yesterday reiterated support for the Museum of African Liberation under construction in Harare, while amending the 2022 memorandum of understanding.
Minister of Defence Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri and Mozambique Minister of Tourism and Culture Eldevina Materula signed the amendment in Harare yesterday and renewed the commitment by both countries to the museum.
Mozambique changed administration of Liberation Museum affairs from its War Veterans Ministry to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, speeding up the implementation of the agreements signed.
The signing of the amendment is part of a continuous implementation roadmap crafted by President Mnangagwa and President Filipe Nyusi during the ground-breaking ceremony for the museum along Samora Machel Avenue West at the Liberation City near Warren Park last year.
Speaking during the signing of the amendment, Minister Materula, said the Liberation Museum project will accord Africans an opportunity to tell their own story with dignity.
“This is a huge project. It is about African history and we are very proud to be part of this. We are in front of the creation of a cultural and tourist village and we reiterate support and commitment for its cause,” she said.
“This is a project for us. We feel that finally we can tell our story by ourselves. This is my feeling and since I arrived here yesterday, every second, every single step is really raising me and I am feeling proud about having the opportunity to be in Africa and talk about Africa.”
She said it was a wonderful project that promoted, protected and preserved the gains of the revolutions and independence of African nations.
“This project recognises those who helped us to fight for our liberation,” she said.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the museum was an honour for Africans who sacrificed their lives for independence from colonial rule.
“As Zimbabweans we are touched to bring all the Africans together. The President brought this idea of the African liberation museum to bring all the Africans together as part of honouring Africans who championed the liberation of Africa and we felt we are now independent because of the supreme sacrifice which we made and beyond and we felt to honour that sacrifice through this project,” she said
The museum, which is a continental project, is meant to document, preserve and promote Africa’s liberation legacy and is being spearheaded by Instak.
The museum will be based in Zimbabwe, but will house material from all African countries which waged armed struggles to liberate themselves, without excluding those countries that may not have taken up arms, but were all the same, instrumental in the liberation period.
The museum seeks to serve as a reference for researchers from the continent and the world and historical documents are expected to be availed in order to support a holistic and diversified presentation of historical contributions to the struggle for African liberation.
Each of the countries are expected to provide the historical material, the organisations, the weapons, the battles, losses and victories which were experienced during the struggle.
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