Zimbabwe govt promises access to Mbuya Nehanda statue after tourist YouTuber raises concern

HARARE – The general population of Zimbabwe might finally get access to the Mbuya Nehanda Statue in Harare, if Nick Mangwana’s word is anything to go by, and it’s all thanks to popular YouTuber Davud Akhundzada.

It was an embarrassing moment for Davud when he was told by police to stay away from the majestic Mbuya Nehanda statue in Harare.

The vlogger, who has been in the country for weeks now, showing his over 2 million fans the beauty of Zimbabwe, tried to film the Mbuya Nehanda footbridge between Samora Machel and Julius Nyerere.

His mission was quickly intercepted by police officers who told him he needed to get permission from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority 9ZTA) if he wanted to access the statue.

The monument is under the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ), which is under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In a video to his fans, the Afghanistan-born vlogger said, “I tried to show you as much as I can, but the police told me to come down. There is no restriction sign here. So what’s the deal with not being able to go up there?”

He then asked the police officer who directed him to seek permission from the tourism authority.

It’s been 4 years since the Mbuya Nehanda statue and footbridge was opened in Harare, but the general public is still prohibited from accessing the massive structure.

Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana then spoke on the issue, saying the government was working on a plan to make the footbridge accessible to the general public as soon as possible.

“To enable safe public viewing of the Mbuya Nehanda statue, while protecting the iconic monument, the government is creating a new access framework.

“The President has instructed that this be implemented as soon as possible. We take this opportunity to apologize to the public for the delayed access,” said Mangwana.

The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry also issued a statement clarifying why access is restricted. In the statement, they apologised to the vlogger for restricting him from accessing the statue.

“The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry has noted with concern a circulating video involving travel vlogger Davud Akhundzada, who was reportedly restricted from accessing the Mbuya Nehanda Statue site in Harare,” the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

“We wish to clarify that the Mbuya Nehanda Statue is a National Heritage Monument managed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage. It stands as a proud symbol of Zimbabwe’s liberation history and identity.

“The site is subject to specific preservation and security protocols and, as such, public access to certain areas, including elevated or restricted zones, may be limited for safety, preservation, and security reasons.

“However, as the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, we are taking proactive steps to enhance tourist management at such sites.

“Through a Whole-of-Government Approach Strategy in coordination with our counterparts at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, we are in the process of deploying tourism officers at key heritage and cultural monuments.

“These officers will facilitate seamless, well-informed, and welcoming access for tourists, ensuring a positive experience while safeguarding our national heritage.”