Story by Tapiwa Machemedze
THE National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ)is on a drive to spruce up provincial heroes acres to uphold the honour of liberation cadres and foster educational tourism to the sites.
The NMMZ is working with provincial stakeholders to rehabilitate Mashonaland Central Provincial Heroes Acre to improve the image of the historical site.
“NMMZ has the task to safeguard this place and we have agreed to ensure we have adequate water supply, and electricity as well we must fence and have elaborate signage. We will have a site museum, we want this place to be an important place bearing memories and it must be a tourism attraction for education purposes,” said Mr Kelvin Machiwenyika-Senior Curator of Archaeology for NMMZ.
The development comes at a time when provincial Heroes Acres are in a poor state which is in contrast with the importance placed on the struggle for independence.
“We are here to put our hands on deck, we want to ensure there is uniformity, and want to ensure that there is electricity, toilets. This place must be well on board That’s why we took everyone on board. We also want district heroes acres to take notes from us as a province; they must come here and take notes that’s why we want to upgrade standards which are here,” said Honourable Christopher Magomo, Mashonaland Central Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution.
“This place is educative and gives me mental maturity in that this place is important to the people of Zimbabwe. These are the heroes, they brought the country, they brought freedom. They decided this country must be free and they serve as a reminder of democracy,” said Cde John Kwainona from the ZANU PF Mashonaland Central War Veterans League.
Located next to the provincial heroes acre lies the ZAOGA Prayer Mountain where the church’s founder and national hero Apostle Ezekiel Guti was buried, prompting the church to assist with water and power connections.
