By Wallace Mawire
The Institute of African Liberation (INSTAK) in Zimbabwe celebrated its the tenth anniversary under the theme, “Celebrating a Decade of Advancing African Knowledge, Heritage and Liberation”.
The anniversary held at the Lnstitute’s Liberation City in Harare, Zimbabwe was graced by Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr Kembo Mohadi who represented the government of Zimbabwe.
Dr Mohadi said at the anniversary occasion that 10 years may appear a relatively short period in the life of an institution yet, what INSTAK has accomplished in the 10 years demonstrates that when vision is guided by purpose, supported by strong leadership and anchored in national priorities, a decade can become a defining chapter in the history of a nation and, a continent.
“Today, we are not merely celebrating the anniversary of an institution. We are celebrating an idea and a vision,” he said.
He added that it’s a celebration of Africa’s continuing determination to reclaim ownership of its history, knowledge, heritage and future.
He said although INSTAK was formally established in 2016, its intellectual roots stretch much further back reaching into Africa’s five-century struggle against slavery, colonialism and neo-colonialism.
According to Dr Mohadi, for generations, the African continent endured not only political domination and economic exploitation, but the systematic erosion of its knowledge systems, its historical memory and its cultural confidence.
‘Our civilisations were misrepresented, our achievements overlooked, and our voices marginalised,’ he said.
He said liberation movements corrected political injustice and won independence through blood, sweat and tears but another struggle remained unfinished, the struggle for intellectual sovereignty and of economic independence.
‘It is this historical responsibility that institutions such as INSTAK have embraced,’ he said.
He added that that is why the Government of Zimbabwe, under the leadership of Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, who is one of the heroes of the coiuntry’s struggle for independence regards the advancement of knowledge, culture and heritage as strategic pillars of national development.
Dr Mohadi said Zimbabwe’s Second Republic’s Vision 2030 is associated with economic modernisation and industrial transformation adding that such development must be underpinned by a citizenry that understands who they are, where they have come from and where they are going.
‘For this reason, Government has consistently supported initiatives that preserve our liberation heritage, strengthen research, promote cultural diplomacy and celebrate African civilisation,’ he said.
He added that INSTAK emerged at a time of renewed emphasis on African knowledge systems and in 2016, African leaders meeting at the African Union Summit in Kigali endorsed the publication of the first-ever Africa Factbook by INSTAK.
He said with support from Government of Zimbabwe, INSTAK published the seminal Africa Factbook, translating vision into practical cooperation, and demonstrating the kind of investment that must be put into Africa’s intellectual renaissance.
‘That is precisely why the work of INSTAK deserves recognition,” he said.
He said its publications, research programmes, educational initiatives, heritage projects and infrastructural undertakings contribute, not only to Zimbabwe’s national development, but also to the broader objectives of regional and continental integration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) respectively.
Dr Mohadi said the Government of Zimbabwe takes particular pride in the partnership that has evolved between the State and the Institute of African Knowledge which he said demonstrates that successful Public-private Partnerships (PPPs) extend well beyond roads, bridges and energy infrastructures.
He said the collaboration stands as an excellent example of what can be achieved when Government, private institutions, academia and development partners work together in pursuit of a common national vision.
He added that the partnership with INSTAK is yielding results that extend far beyond Zimbabwe’s borders, positioning the country as a centre for African scholarship, heritage preservation and Pan-African cooperation.
He said one of the enduring lessons of the country’s liberation struggle is that freedom must be defended by strong institutions that preserve memory, nurture leadership and sustain national values across generations.
‘As we celebrate INSTAK’s first decade, we are reminded that such institutions play an indispensable role in ensuring that the sacrifices of the liberation struggle continue to inspire Africa’s future,’ Dr Mohadi said.
He said during the past decade, the Institute of African Knowledge has demonstrated that knowledge should never remain confined to bookshelves, lecture rooms or conference halls.
He said knowledge must inspire action, influence public policy, shape education, enrich tourism, strengthen multilateral cooperation and, contribute to the socio-economic transformation of people.
Dr Mohadi said it is against this background that Government of Zimbabwe commends INSTAK for developing an integrated model that combines research, publishing, heritage preservation, education, tourism, investment promotion, cultural diplomacy and infrastructure development.
He said the vision is visible in the development of Liberation City and is not merely an infrastructure project, but an expression of African civilisation.
He said it is a place where research, culture, tourism, hospitality, recreation, education and commerce converge to tell one compelling story, that Africa’s future is strengthened by a proper appreciation of its past.
According to Dr Mohadi, the Heritage Village, the Skydeck Gazebo, the growing recreational facilities, conference amenities and the continuing construction of other facilities make Liberation City an important destination for domestic and international visitors alike.
‘Beyond their economic value, these facilities contribute to Zimbabwe’s broader strategy of promoting heritage-based tourism, conference tourism and cultural industries as important drivers of economic growth,” he said.
He added that the Government of Zimbabwe is particularly encouraged by the growing international interest that Liberation City continues to attract from Heads of State and Government, diplomats, scholars, investors, traditional leaders, schoolchildren and other visitors from across the world.
He said it demonstrates that Zimbabwe possesses both the vision and the capacity to create institutions of genuine continental significance.
He added that at the heart of Liberation City stands one of Africa’s most ambitious heritage projects, the Museum of African Liberation.
Dr Mohadi said the Museum is far more than an architectural landmark but a repository of Africa’s collective memory, which will preserve the history of liberation movements from across our continent and ensure that future generations understand the sacrifices that secured the freedoms we enjoy today.
He said for Zimbabwe, whose liberation struggle occupies a distinguished place in African history, it is fitting that such a continental institution should find its home here.
He said the Government is proud to support the initiative because it reflects values that have always guided the country’s foreign policy, Pan-African solidarity, regional cooperation and respect for the sacrifices made by those who fought for Africa’s freedom.
He said President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa has consistently recognised the global significance of the project.
‘It is for this reason that he has accorded Liberation City National Project Status,’ he said.
Dr Mohadi said the President has appointed one of Zimbabwe’s most distinguished diplomats, Ambassador Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, as his Special Envoy on the Museum of African Liberation demonstrating the premium that Government of Zimbabwe places on ensuring that the Museum enjoys genuine African ownership.
Dr Mohadi said to date Ambassador Mumbengegwi has successfully engaged at least 22 Heads of State and Government from Africa and beyond to support the Museum.
These consultations are said to have reinforced an important principle that the Museum belongs not only to Zimbabwe, but to the entire African continent.
He also paid tribute to the exemplary leadership of the Chairperson of the INSTAK Board, Professor Simbi Veke Mubako.
He said Professor Mubako is one of Zimbabwe’s most accomplished legal scholars, diplomats and statesmen and a veteran nationalist, with extensive experience in public administration, law, diplomacy and global affairs and has provided the strategic guidance necessary for INSTAK’s continued growth.
‘It is important to point out that the INSTAK Board, in its entirety, reflects the Pan-African values that Zimbabwe holds dear, with representation spanning the continent and imbuing the institution with the richness of ideas that diversity brings,’ Dr Mohadi said.
He also recognised the Chief Executive Officer of INSTAK, Ambassador Kwame Muzawazi, whom he said his tireless efforts have grown the institution from its inception into one of Africa’s leading knowledge, policy and heritage organisations.
Dr Mohadi said Ambassador Muzawazi’s leadership of INSTAK, and his operationalisation of its various projects, gives comfort to those from the liberation generation, assuring them that their heritage and future are safe.
He said Liberation City has already hosted major regional events, including activities associated with the 2024 SADC Summit, during which the groundbreaking ceremony for the SADC Liberation Square was conducted.
He also said as Zimbabwe steps up its bid to host the 2027 African Union Mid-Year Coordination Summit, Liberation City will play an increasingly strategic role in showcasing the country’s heritage, hospitality, investment opportunities and enduring commitment to Pan-African unity.
He added that INSTAK is not merely supporting Zimbabwe’s national development agenda, but is contributing directly to regional integration within SADC and to the realisation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
‘For this reason, Government regards INSTAK, not simply as an institutional partner, but as a strategic national asset whose work advances Zimbabwe’s developmental aspirations while simultaneously strengthening Africa’s collective future,’ Dr Mohadi said.
He said the first decade of the Institute of African Knowledge has been about laying strong foundations and has demonstrated that African knowledge can inspire African solutions, that heritage can become a driver of development and that history, when properly preserved and interpreted, can become a powerful instrument for education, tourism, diplomacy and economic transformation.
‘The next decade must be about consolidation, expansion and deepening impact. It must be about pioneering research that informs public policy and national development; strengthening educational programmes that instil pride and confidence in our young people; expanding partnerships across Africa and the world in pursuit of shared prosperity, mutual respect and cultural understanding; and completing transformative projects such as Liberation City and the Museum of African Liberation so that they fully assume their rightful place among Africa’s great institutions,’ Dr Mohadi said.
He said the Government of Zimbabwe remains fully committed to creating an environment in which Public-Private Partnerships, such as the one with INSTAK, can thrive.
He added that the model deserves recognition because it demonstrates what becomes possible when Government, the private sector, academia and development partners unite behind a shared national vision.
He said it is precisely the spirit of collaboration that is required if Africa is to realise the aspirations of Agenda 2063 and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
‘It is the task of nurturing generations of Africans who take pride in their identity, draw strength from their shared history and contribute confidently to the advancement of humanity. That is the Africa envisioned by the founding fathers of our continent. It is the Africa towards which Zimbabwe continues to contribute under the leadership of His Excellency President Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa,’ he said.
He added that it is the Africa that institutions such as the Institute of African Knowledge are helping to build every day.
‘As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to advancing African knowledge, preserving African heritage and safeguarding the ideals of liberation for future generations,’ Dr Mohadi said.
Dr Mohadi congratuled the Institute of African Knowledge on its outstanding achievement wishing them tht the next decade bring greater success, greater innovation and greater service to Zimbabwe, Africa and humanity.
