eBusiness Weekly
The Great Zimbabwe, a world heritage site, is set to undergo a EURO 3 million rehabilitation and development programme that seeks to preserve and safeguard the cultural heritage monument for future generations, an official has said.
The three -year project, to be officially launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, will be implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in collaboration with the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), who are the custodian of World Heritage Sites, will also be involved in the project.
In a statement, UNOPS communications associate Viola Mundira said the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the French public development institution, will avail funding for the project.
“The Great Zimbabwe Development Project aims to promote sustainable and inclusive tourism development and cultural heritage of Zimbabwe. This will be achieved by improving the conservation of the World Heritage Site and strengthening national capacities to manage the site while promoting inter-linkages with the local economy,” she said.
“This funding from the AFD will see the visitor experience at the Great Zimbabwe World Heritage Site elevated to international standards. The cooperation between the two countries will also strengthen the preservation of Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage.”
Mundira said the Great Zimbabwe monument, from which the country draws its name, represents one of the most spectacular architectural and cultural landscapes in Africa.
“Enhancing the value of the Great Zimbabwe World Heritage site has the potential to contribute to employment, economic growth, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Zimbabwe,” she said.
Great Zimbabwe was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. It is the largest dry-stone structure in sub-Saharan Africa.
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