US completes Naletale monument restoration

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RESTORATION of the Naletale Monument in Midlands Province, which began last year in March through a $64 000 funding from the United States Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, has now been completed.
(File Photo) Naletale Ruins
(File Photo) Naletale Ruins

RESTORATION of the Naletale Monument in Midlands Province, which began last year in March through a $64 000 funding from the United States Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, has now been completed.

BY IVAN NDLOVU

Unesco in 2012 listed Naletale as a deteriorating site that was losing its integrity prompting the US to chip in.

The US embassy on Thursday handed over the completed project to the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe.

US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Bruce Wharton emphasised the importance of Americans understanding Zimbabwe’s culture and history.

“We Americans must first understand and appreciate Zimbabwe’s own culture and history. We must respect what the people of Zimbabwe accomplished before the arrival of Europeans here” Wharton said.

“By bringing American tax dollars to assist in restoring Zimbabwe’s monuments, my government and my embassy are saying that we recognise and respect Zimbabwe’s pre-colonial history.”

National Museums board chairman Obert Maravanyika, commended the US government for helping preserve Zimbabwe’s history and culture.

“We are glad that we have been assisted in taking care of our history and culture. It is now up to us to keep it in that sound condition,” said Maravanyika.

The Great Zimbabwe and Khami monuments are also listed on the Unesco World Heritage list.

In 2008, Zimbabwe benefited from a $36 000 Ambassador’s fund to improve security at the Great Zimbabwe Museum to protect artefacts exhibited there.

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