The Sunday News
MATSHEUMHLOPE low-density suburb is one of Bulawayo’s oldest low density residential areas and during its prime may have been one of the preferred suburban areas in the city, perhaps because of its serene environment underlined by tweeting birds and luxurious vegetation.
Now the suburb might have, however, outlived its prime and may no longer be as picturesque as before, yet there still remains one peculiar feature that places the suburb on the list of one of the interesting places in the city.
Matsheumhlope is home to Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Museum, a gallery set up in honour and to tell the story of one of the country’s illustrious liberation war icons, the late former Vice-President Dr Joshua Nkomo.
The museum is situated at house Number 17 Aberdeen Road in Matsheumhlophe, formerly Dr Nkomo’s house.
Dr Nkomo’s residence was converted into a museum and opened to the public at the end of January in 2012.
If it were not for the poor, or rather inexistent, touring culture among Zimbabweans, Matsheumhlope would probably be one of the most frequently visited areas in the city, especially by liberation war history enthusiasts.
The suburb habours the history of one of the most outstanding icons of the country’s struggle for freedom.
Ten rooms of the previous main house make up the museum, including the veranda where the late Father Zimbabwe’s navy blue bullet-proof Mercedes Benz, which is still in mint condition, is parked.
Inside the house are portraits, newspaper cuttings, photographs, clothes, tools, kitchen utensils, including all movable household property that belonged to Nkomo and his late wife Joana “MaFuyana” Nkomo.
The artefacts on display vividly relay the story of Dr Nkomo’s life as a family man and a liberation war luminary, yet few people, save for schoolchildren from in and around Bulawayo, have shown interest in visiting the place and learn about the man who dedicated his life to their freedom.
Noteworthy artefacts in the museum include a love letter that Dr Nkomo wrote to MaFuyana on 2 February 1977, telling her that he bought her a car as a present for their 23rd wedding anniversary as a way of expressing his love for her.
Dr Nkomo’s academic awards and regalia, his library, his rifles that he used during the war and his clothes among other things are also displayed in the museum.
Also on exhibition in the monument are pictures of Dr Nkomo with the likes of President Mugabe and top Zipra commanders during the liberation struggle.
So apparent is the paucity among Zimbabweans in embracing the culture of touring that the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo National Foundation (JMNNF), which set up the museum and superintend over it, is now considering attracting international tourists.
JMNNF chief executive director Mr Jabulani Hadebe told Sunday News last week that his organisation was working on spreading publicity of the museum across the country’s borders as a way of attracting more visitors to the place.
Mr Hadebe said the idea came about after realising that few locals were interested in visiting the place despite the facility having been widely publicised locally through the local media.
“On average we get between 5 000 and 6 500 visitors a year, mostly schoolchildren who come on organised tours from their schools. We hardly have any local adult visitors. Maybe it’s because we generally do not have a touring culture as Zimbabweans.
“It’s the same with most tourist attractions across the country, you hardly find many locals there. So as a foundation we have seen it prudent to work on attracting visitors from across the country’s borders.
“Remember Dr Nkomo was not only a revolutionary and visionary in and for Zimbabwe only but his credentials are recognised across the borders as one of the region’s liberators. So we hope by publicising the museum internationally making its existence known, we may be able to start attracting international visitors,” he said.
Mr Hadebe said by attracting more visitors to the museum they would be able to start charging token fees that would assist in making the facility self-sustaining.
“We are working with the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) at the museum with whom we signed a Memorandum of Understanding. They are assisting us with a bit of money to operate the facility and once in a while they send us a curator to assist us with the artefacts among other technical issues concerning monuments.
“The museum is a non-profit making organisation but we however, hope to raise a bit of money that will help us maintain the facility in shape. So we are working on a number of engagements towards raising the little money that is needed,” said Mr Hadebe.
Two years ago JMNNF gave the museum and areas surrounding the facility a facelift at a cost of about $8 000, sprucing up the two gardens at the monument.
The renovations saw the establishment of Mqabuko Gardens capped with plush exotic vegetation suitable for hosting first-rate events such corporate functions, conferences, weddings and parties.
Apart from just playing host to events, the facility also offers catering and a wide range multimedia services for clients who would haved hired the place. A child play centre is also available at the museum.
The museum is a non-profit, non-political, non-Governmental and non-sectarian initiative managed by the board of trustees of the foundation.
Some of the notable and prominent personalities to have visited the museum and appended their signatures in the visitors’ book are the late Vice- Presidents Cdes Joseph Msika and John Landa Nkomo and incumbent Vice-President Cde Phelekezela Mphoko.
Chairperson of African Union Sports Council (AUSC) which organises the Region Five’s Under-20 Youth Games Mr Vetumbuavi Vell of Namibia is also among some of the prominent people who visited the museum during the edition of the games that were held in Zimbabwe in December last year.
