Situated near the main city of Johannesburg, the sprawling Soweto- which has a population of over a million people does not only prove to be the hub of South African art and culture, but also stands as the roots of the countrys long struggle against apartheid.
With the initiative of the South African government, Soweto has, over the past decade gradually improved its image, from being just a place known for poverty, crime and gangsters to a town that portrays the history of the country.
This is unlike in Zimbabwe where the heart of the countrys armed struggle- Highfield and Mbare- still have old, poorly maintained buildings, overcrowding of people and neglected roads.
There is very little to show that these two suburbs, then townships for blacks, played a significant role in the liberation struggle.
Driving through the 120 kilometre radius Soweto, the sight of newly built houses, refurbished infrastructure and new roads highly overrides some of the remaining ugly sections where there are hostels and shacks which house thousands of people who live in squalid conditions. There are pieces of art portraying the struggle at every street corner. First are the Orlando towers; two 100 metre tall, disused coal electricity towers that have been artistically painted with huge, colourful murals depicting, not only South African, but African history and way of life.
Matapi, just like Soweto is significant to the history of Zimbabwe as it is one of the most crowded settlements where urban black bachelors were resettled by the white Rhodesian government. It is also in Matapi that some of the first nationalists lived and organised the guerrilla warfare from. South Africans have gone a further step with the establishment of a museum on Soweto, which shows the struggle of students against apartheid.
The Hector Pieterson Museum was opened in 2002 in memory of the famous June 16, 1976 incident where police of the apartheid regime opened fire on students demonstrating against apartheid. Hector Pieterson, a 13-year old student, was among the first casualties of the police action.
Instead of maintaining an expensive heroes acre which of late has become a place where only those loyal to Zanu (PF) are buried, government could invest in the creation of a museum specially dedicated to Zimbabwes rise of nationalism which can become a valuable asset for the current and future generations.
This, if done in a non partisan way, can be the beginning of the writing of a true story about Zimbabwes history.
It is high the Zimbabwean government stop just talking about how they fought the liberation struggle, forgetting that the black people in townships contributed significantly to the guerrilla warfare.
What really is the history of Zimbabwe? How can it be written? In what way? comments to tapiwaz@gmail.com +263 913 245 709
Post published in: Opinions