By Sharon Chimenya

THE government has embarked on an exercise to rehabilitate liberation war shrines outside the country, which are now in a deplorable state, it has been learnt.

The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) is set to accelerate the exercise, which will help preserve the country’s history and honour freedom fighters.

In an interview, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Ambassador Raphael Faranisi, said that under the NMMZ, they have managed to maintain some national monuments and are moving to improve those outside the country.

“Under the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe, I must advise that, as you are aware, some of our shrines outside the country have been in a deplorable state, but we have been working to improve them, and in the next programme, we are going to accelerate these efforts,” he said.

“The Honourable Vice President, Colonel (Retired) Kembo Mohadi, was on a tour of the region, and we now have a clear picture of the resources we need,” he said.
In August, Vice President Dr. Mohadi toured liberation war sites in Zambia, Mozambique, Angola, and Tanzania.

Ambassador Faranisi said they have since upgraded shrines at Chimoio in line with the programme.

“In Chimoio, we have built two curator houses, a reception centre, and ablution facilities. This is part of the process of ensuring that our national shrines are upgraded to a respectable standard because this is where our history lies,” he said.