ZIMSEC A Level · Heritage Studies · Form 5
Legal and institutional framework
- The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) Act protects monuments, relics and museums.
- National Archives of Zimbabwe preserves documents; the National Arts Council and cultural organisations support intangible heritage.
- International conventions: UNESCO World Heritage Convention (1972) and the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003).
World Heritage Sites in Zimbabwe
Mana Pools (1984), Great Zimbabwe (1986), Khami (1986), Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls (1989, shared with Zambia), Matobo Hills (2003). Intangible heritage elements include the Mbende Jerusarema dance and the art of making and playing mbira/sansi.
Approaches to management
- Conservation and restoration of structures (e.g. dry-stone walls at Great Zimbabwe).
- Community participation: involving local communities and custodians of sacred sites (e.g. the Njelele shrine in the Matobo Hills).
- Balancing tourism revenue with preservation (carrying capacity).
- Repatriation of heritage: the return of the Zimbabwe Birds from South Africa (2003) and calls for the return of human remains taken during the colonial period.
Threats
Vandalism, theft, urban development, mining near sites, climate change, neglect and lack of funding.
Exam tip: Discuss conflicts between heritage conservation and development or tourism with a named example.
Check yourself
- Which institution manages monuments in Zimbabwe?
- Name two Zimbabwean World Heritage Sites listed in 1986.
- Give one reason for involving local communities in heritage management.
Show answers
- The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ).
- Great Zimbabwe and Khami.
- Any one: they are custodians of sacred sites, it builds ownership, protects intangible values, provides local benefits.
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