The Board which will be chaired by Brigadier General (Rtd) Epmarcus Walter Kanhanga will have Professor Sara Baisai Feresu, Dr. Munyaradzi Manyanga Ms Virginia Madiro and Mr Dictor Khumalo as other board members.
Speaking during the official introduction of the board members, Minister Kazembe said he was tasked to ensure that standards of corporate governance are upheld whilst preserving the nation’s cultural integrity.
“It is with great pleasure that I officially introduce a Board of Trustees of the NMMZ. As a Ministry, through the national Monuments and Museums of Zimbabwe, our constitutional mandate includes ensuring that all institutions and agencies of Government at every level and all Zimbabwean citizens preserve and protect Zimbabwe’s heritage, traditional institutions, cultural values, and practices which enhance the dignity, well-being and equality of Zimbabweans,” said the Minister.
Minister Kazembe added that the appointed board had many mandates including to administer museums and national monuments vested in or controlled by the Board; to provide for the preservation of monuments, relics and other objects of historical or scientific value or interest; and to investigate and report upon any matter relating to any monument or relic, including the desirability of declaring any monument to be a national monument.
Minister Kazembe further urged the new board to review and consider the welfare and conditions of service for the NMMZ staff and said that will go a long way in boosting the morale of the workers who were an essential cog in the functioning of that institution.
The Minister said the Board also had a task to compile and keep a register of all national monuments and of any relics that it has acquired or that have been brought to its notice.
The Home Affairs Minister further said that he was hopeful that the Board would have sufficient time to fully appreciate the purpose of the parastatal, introduce and implement policy decisions that will further transform the vision and operations of NMMZ.
He added that the Government fully appreciate the critical role that the NMMZ plays in national development.
In his acceptance speech, Brigadier General (Rtd) Kanhanga said he was aware of the task ahead and pledged to work tirelessly to transform the fortunes of the NMMZ.
The appointment of the Board is expected to positively revamp the operations of the NMMZ as it has been operating without a substantive board for a long time.
