Friends of Joshua Nkomo Trust complete Muzenda heritage site

By Walter Mswazie

Friends of Joshua Nkomo Trust has completed upgrading the $200 000 KwaVaMuzenda Village in Mucheke A suburb in Masvingo into a heritage site, paving the way for its commissioning by President Mugabe next month.

The heritage site has been established at a house near Mucheke bus terminus where the late VP, who died in 2003, used to live with his family before the country’s independence in 1980.

Friends of Joshua Nkomo Trust creative director Mr Rayban Sengwayo said the upgrading work at KwaVaMuzenda Village is now complete and builders were now working on the stone wall around the village.

Mr Sengwayo said the commissioning of the heritage site would coincide with Zanu-PF’s 16th Annual National People’s conference slated for Masvingo Show Grounds from December 13 to 17.

He said the KwaVaMuzenda Village had been upgraded into a heritage site as a way of paying homage to the late national hero.

Mr Sengwayo said the museum would have pictures, the late VP Muzenda’s walking stick and all paraphernalia associated with him as well as the car that he used during the colonial era.

A coffee shop and an art and craft centre would also be established at the heritage site.

“The ground is almost set for the commissioning of KwaVaMuzenda heritage site next month. As I am speaking we are doing final touches on the perimeter wall after we have finished refurbishing the three huts. The local Zanu PF leadership led by Cde Joosbi Orma and the business community have been assisting us finish the $200 000 project,” said Mr Sengwayo.

He said three refurbished huts would be named after late luminaries who participated in the protracted struggle for independence and lived in Masvingo so that the present generation can have an appreciation of how independence came about.

“We have identified the families who were residents of Mucheke suburb in 1892. Three family representatives will give us some history during the commissioning. Some families lived with the Muzenda family.

“We have named these huts after the late Cdes Nolan Makombe, Mayor Urimbo and Benjamin Burombo,” Mr Sengwayo said. Chronicle