By Admire Huni
BOTSWANA President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi says the Museum of African Liberation will go a long way in chronicling the important role his country played in the fight against colonial rule in Southern Africa.
The Museum of African Liberation being constructed in Zimbabwe has been identified as a key tool in unlocking the untold story of how Botswana immensely contributed to the liberation of Southern African countries from colonial rule.
This emerged during a meeting held in Botswana recently which was attended by a Zimbabwean delegation led by Presidential Special Envoy, Ambassador Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and the Botswana delegation led by His Excellency Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.
“Botswana is one of the few countries who played a very important and critical role in the liberation of our continent, especially Southern Africa but have not received their full credit, why because Botswana was a silent frontline state.
“I cannot think of any leader of the liberation movements who did not find their way to Botswana and were not received and protected and facilitated right from Nelson Mandela, Samora Machel, Robert Mugabe, Sam Nujoma they were all nurtured here,” said Ambassador Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Presidential Special Envoy to Botswana.
Botswana has since been offered one acre of land at the Liberation City in Harare to erect a monument which tells its liberation story.
“We are very proud of the Museum (Museum of African Liberation) that is happening in Zimbabwe. We support it all the way. We will play our part. We are particularly intrigued by its Africanist perspective. We are African and we can never doubt that. Rest assured, the Botswana story will be an Africanist story; the narration, the setup and the design,” said President Masisi.
The Museum of African Liberation project will see a Liberation City being developed in Warren Park supported by a five-star hotel, a monument, a shopping mall, a recreation and amusement park as well as upmarket residential apartments.
