Assembly point granted monument status

GOVERNMENT has declared Dzapasi Assembly Point — the country’s biggest post-liberation war assembly point— and nine other sites of historical and cultural importance, as national monuments.

The sites have therefore been placed under direct supervision of the National Museums and Monument Zimbabwe ( NMMZ).

In a notice published in the Government Gazette last Friday; Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage Minister Abednico Ncube said the declaration was made on the recommendation of the trustees of the NMMZ.

The other monuments are Mavhuradonha Wilderness, Ntabazinduna Training Depot Dedication Tower, Morris Training Depot Dedication Tower, Ntabazikamambo or Manyanga National Monument, Stanely Hall and Square, Nerumedzo Forest, Chitungwiza chaChaminuka, Masvingo Provincial Heroes Acre and Kubiku Ruins.

Dzapasi Assembly Point was one of the 21 assembly points set around the country to house thousands of refugees and liberation war fighters returning from the war after declaration of a cease fire.

Dzapasi, or Foxtrot as it was called then, is located 60km south of Murambinda in Buhera.

The assembly point spread over 20km and had an estimated population of 15 000.

Stanley Hall and Square in Makokoba, Bulawayo, is an iconic and revered venue used by nationalists and late Vice Presidents Joshua Nkomo, Joseph Msika and John Nkomo, among others, during the struggle for lndependence.

The Mavuradonha Wilderness is one of the last intact pristine wilderness areas remaining in the country, with some amazing six hundred square kilometres of savannah woodland and the spectacular scenery of the Zambezi Escarpment.

Nerumedzo Forest is located in Bikita, Masvingo province and was named after Chief Nerumedzo who led his people in conserving this forest, which is endowed with indigenous and exotic fruits and is home to an edible insect known as harurwa.

The forest also has lots of archaeological sites.

NMMZ director Dr Godfrey Mahachi said the declaration of the sites as national monuments means that they are now protected by law.

“The declaration means that the sites have been recognised as having significance that requires protection by the laws of the land, principally the National Museums and Monuments Act.

“It confirms the status for the places and calls upon everyone who interacts with them to respect the values that the monuments stand for.”

Section 20 of the National Museums and Monuments Act empowers the responsible Minister to declare national monuments.