THE Government has unveiled plans to upgrade the monument at Pupu in Lupane, where King Lobengula's warriors had their final battle with colonial forces led by Major Allan Wilson in 1893, by fencing it and building a museum.
Rural Development, Preservation and Promotion of Culture and Heritage Minister Abednico Ncube said this in an interview at Pupu, about 50km east of Lupane Centre, on Thursday after meeting locals to brief them on the plans.
Ncube said the Battle of Pupu was part of the 1893 to 1894 Ndebele War against the whites that formed the foundation of the anti-colonialism struggle that yielded the country’s Independence in 1980.
At the monument is a mass grave where Ndebele forces who died in the battle are buried and a structure which had a plaque which had the names of the colonial forces who died. This was done by the colonial government which designated the place a national monument in 1937.
On the proposal to have a statue of King Lobengula erected, Ncube said, the suggestion could be considered as the monarch, who according to Ndebele folklore “disappeared”, was an important figure in the history of this country.
- Sunday News
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