Ashly Dhani
Harmony Agere
The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) in partnership with the City of Harare is set to construct a statue for First Chimurenga spirit medium and heroine Mbuya Nehanda at the intersection of Samora Machel Avenue and Julius Nyerere in Harare in honour of her gallant deeds during the 1896 uprising.
According to sources at NMMZ, apart from honouring the heroine, the monument is also being constructed as a counterbalance to colonial statues which have dominated the country’s historical monuments since the establishment of the settler regime in 1890.
“The monument will be massive with the statue suspended above the intersection,” said the sources.
“The idea is that we need to honour our heroes and heroines through monuments and statues. So far the major statues that we have had are colonial and we need to correct that.”
In a public notice, the City of Harare confirmed the development, saying sections of Samora Machel Avenue will be closed from June 25 to August 28 2020 to allow for the construction of the monument.
Samora Machel Avenue will be closed between Leopold Takawira Street and First Street.
There will also be road closures between Julius Nyerere Way and Sam Nujoma Street and Kwame Nkrumah Avenue.
“Alternative routes will be recommended by use of informative signs,” the notice reads in part.
“It is most important to note that during this period Leopold Takawira Street will be two-way up to Nelson Mandela Avenue from Samora Machel Avenue and a section of Kwame Nkrumah Avenue between First Street and Julius Nyerere Way will be one-way for traffic due west.”
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