Zanu-PF decries state of KwaVaMuzenda Heritage Site

ZANU-PF has expressed concern over the state of KwaVaMuzenda Heritage Site that was opened in Masvingo’s oldest suburb of Mucheke to celebrate the life of veteran nationalist and late Vice President Dr Simon Vengesai Muzenda.

Dr Muzenda passed on in 2003 and his former residence in Mucheke A suburb during the formative days of black resistance against the racist Rhodesian colonial regime in the late 1950s was turned into a heritage site after his demise.

The late VP’s residence comprises two huts and various other paraphernalia used by the late Soul of the Nation during his stay in Masvingo.

Government, through the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, designated KwaVaMuzanda Heritage Site as a tourist attraction in honour of the late VP.

Zanu-PF director for Environment and Tourism Cde Stewart Mutizwa on Monday expressed concern over the state of the heritage site.

Speaking during a preparatory meeting with stakeholders and Government departments in Masvingo that was convened by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Enshrinement on Monday, Cde Mutizwa decried the situation at the heritage site.

“I have been very disturbed by some of the things that I came across at KwaVaMuzenda Heritage, particularly the fact that when we went there the place was deserted, there was no one there to welcome visitors,” he said.

“‘Such an important place deserves to be held in high regard and I think we need even to have university students on attachment assigned at the site full time so that they can attend to visitors coming to the place to know more about the late VP.”

Cde Mutizwa said the heritage site appeared to have been vandalised in some sections, a situation that could have been avoided if the place was fully manned.

He said there was need to properly look after key heritage sites such as KwaVaMuzenda because of such places’ historical significance.

“We need to try our best to properly look after such places as KwaVaMuzenda because they are very important in the history of our nation,” said Cde Mutizwa.

KwaVaMuzenda Heritage Site was built by members of the Friends of Joshua Nkomo Trust who said they stood ready to assist in further development of the site and other places developed to celebrate the country’s rich liberation war history.

The trust was assisted in setting up KwaVaMuzenda Heritage Site by the Great Zimbabwe University through its department for Culture and Heritage Studies.

VP Muzenda was given freedom of the city of Masvingo during his lifetime and there have been calls for the erection of his statue in the country’s oldest town and his home town of Mpandawana in Gutu as a way of remembering him.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Enshrinement has since embarked on a programme to develop tourism shrines on key places around the country that help tell Zimbabwe’s struggle against Rhodesian colonial tyranny.

Preparatory work has already started to develop Trabablas Trail shrine at the Masvingo Railway Station as a way of remembering President Mnangagwa’s exploits when as a member of the famed Crocodile Gang, he blew up a Rhodesian locomotive in 1964.

This led to his arrest and sentencing to death by the Rhodesian government.

President Mnangagwa escaped the hangman’s noose on an age technicality.