Old Bulawayo restoration yet to begin as Khumalos and NMMZ continue haggling

The reconstruction of King Lobengula's capital, popularly known as Old Bulawayo, razed by veld fires last August is yet to begin amid revelations that about how $100 000 is needed to kick-start the project and that the Khumalos and NMMZ continue haggling over who should initiate the restoration process.

The restoration of King Lobengula's original palace, Old Bulawayo, which was gutted by a veld fire last August continues to hang in the balance because of bureaucratic bungling between the Lobengula's descendants, the Khumalo family and National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ), NewsDay has reported.

Old Bulawayo was built by King Lobengula in 1870 and was burnt down in 1881 in protest against invasion of white colonialists.

The King's palace has remained an eyesore as the Khumalos and NMMZ continue haggling over who should initiate the restoration process.

NMMZ director Godfrey Mahachi told NewsDay he once drove to Bulawayo for a stakeholders' meeting, but was told "the meeting had been postponed because the stakeholders needed to consult amongst themselves before getting back to us".

Mahachi said they we are told that the Khumalo family members have to perform some traditional rites because the site is a cultural one and that has to be done before the restoration process is done. We are ready to come for the consultative meeting even if it was held tomorrow because our initial aim was to get the reconstruction work running by June. We have been given a go-ahead to do some other things by the stakeholders, but the sooner the consultative meeting is held the better.

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