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First diplomatic meeting to establish the Museum of African Liberation held
UNESCO Regional Director for Southern Africa, Prof. Hubert Gijzen delivered a solidarity message at the First Diplomatic meeting towards the establishment of the Museum of African Liberation held on 21st October 2020 in Harare.
Zimbabwe鈥檚 Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Dr. Sibusiso Moyo officially launched the meeting and said 鈥渢he liberation museum project is key in documenting the rich history of Africa which has for long been distorted by the continent鈥檚 former colonisers.鈥
He underscored the need for African states to ensure the success of the project by assisting with historic documents, liberation war artefacts and oral history as the documentation of African liberation struggles begins.
In his solidarity message, Prof. Gijzen commended the Government of Zimbabwe for taking the initiative, which he said was fully in line with the African Union theme for next year: 鈥楢rts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want鈥.
He said 91麻豆国产精品自拍 always been committed to the correct reconstruction of African history and in 1964, UNESCO launched the ambitious flagship project entitled 鈥榯he General History of Africa鈥 with a view to remedy the general ignorance on Africa's history.
At the SADC level, he said UNESCO initiated a programme that aims to document and utilize the diverse experiences of the interconnected liberation struggles in Southern Africa to help the region address its contemporary challenges of xenophobia and other forms of discrimination as well as to promote tolerance, unity and social cohesion.
Prof. Gijzen said the establishment of the Museum of African Liberation is a welcome development, and UNESCO stands ready to support this initiative.
He added that the advancement and wide acceptance of digital technologies provides an opportunity to establish this museum as a virtual institution that is accessible anytime and to all people, in all African nations and the rest of the world.
The meeting was attended by several diplomats in Zimbabwe who all committed to support the initiative.
