The government of Zimbabwe along with France will be working together to revive the prestigious Great Zimbabwe walls. This move is aimed at preserving Zimbabwe’s heritage thereby boosting the country’s tourism sector.
Zimbabwe’s National Archives (NAZ) will align with the upcoming upgrade of the walls by turning to digitisation for the safekeeping of data relating to the bilateral relations between France and Zimbabwe.
Mr Laurent Chevallier, the French Ambassador paid a courtesy visit to Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe to discuss further on the Great Zimbabwe facelift. The assistance of France in this project is aimed at enhancing relations between the two countries.
The French will not stop with the upgrading of the Great Zimbabwe walls but intend to go a step further in assisting NAZ with digitisation and training.
Mr Laurent Chevallier, expressed that their country took pride in this collaboration with Zimbabwe as it helps strengthen the nations’ relationship. The plans are now in motion starting on 19 May 2021. The French Ambassador had the following to say:
“We are very happy to be here today on the opening of the important workshop on the development of Great Zimbabwe World Heritage site carried out by the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) in collaboration with French Development Agency (AFD). The cooperation is a major part of the French action in Zimbabwe for many years especially in terms of the protection and promotion of cultural heritage.”
However, this move left some Zimbabweans worried that the French government will want a share in owning our heritage. The NNMZ director, Godfrey Mahachi set our minds at ease when he stated that this move was not at all like selling our heritage, but simply protecting and refurbishing it.
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