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Khani National Monument. An historic site
in Zimbabwe
 Khani
National Monument receives funding
from American Express for immediate
preservation efforts. Local landmark is
one of 17 worldwide selected for 1997
grand awards as part of World Monuments
Watch program
BULAWAYO,
ZIMBABWE: American Express Company and
the World Monuments Fund announced that
the Khama National Monument will receive
$50,000 as one of17 sites selected for
funding by American Express in the second
round of grants awarded under the World
Monuments Watch program and its 1996-1997
List of 100 Most Endangered sites. The
"endangered species list" of historic
sites world-wide is issued every two years
by the World Monuments Fund to draw
attention to irreplaceable cultural
heritage sites in immediate
peril.
The
World Monuments Fund created the world
Monuments Watch in 1995 on the occasion of
the organization 's 30th anniversary. The
program solicits nominations from the
ministries of culture around the world,
from all United States embassies, from
international, national and local
preservation groups, and from American
Express offices worldwide. The nomination
process is also open to individual
citizens as a means of encouraging private
activism. An independent panel of
international experts in architecture,
travel, archaeology, conservation, and
related fields selects sites for inclusion
in the biennial World Monuments Watch
Lists of 100 Most Endangered Sites. The
World Monuments Fund, based in New York
City, is the only private, non profit
organization that sponsors worldwide
preservation activities.As founding
sponsor of the World Monuments Watch,
American Express has committed $5 million
to the Watch program over a five year
period, with grants in 1997 totaling $950
million.
These
grants are made throughWorld Monuments
Fund. The 35 hectares of the Khama
National Monument encompass the remainsof
the ancient city of the Great Zimbabwe
type, the most important city of the 250
known sites between the Zambezi and
Limpopo Rivers. Great Zimbabwe flourished
as a center of trade between the 13th and
15th centuries. Remains, including Chinese
and Portuguese porcelain, attest to the
city's extensive international trade
contacts. One wall of the Precipe Ruin at
Khama is the longest decorated wall in
Zimbabwe. Today, portions of many
structures remain but they are threatened
by a nearby dam. The terrain is unstable
and the walls have cracked, bulged and in
some case collapsed. Burrowing animals and
trespassers foraging forfirewood and
building stone are further destabilizing
the site.
In
order to preserve the Monument for the
future, a strategic conservation plan and
restoration of parts of the sites are
needed. The award to the Khami National
Monument will be used to start the rescue
work. According to Dawson Munjeri,
Executive Director of National Museums and
Monumentsof Zimbabwe, "This project is
very significant to the preservation of
Zimbabwe's proud history and brings
awareness of the importance of
conservation efforts at the country''s
other heritage sites."
The
award was made to the National Museums and
Monuments of Zimbabwe by Lhab Zaghloul,
American Express Regional Manager, in a
ceremony heldat the Khami National
Monument in the presence of Dumiso
Dabengwa,Minister of Home Affairs.
Commenting on the donation, Mr. Zaghloul
said, " American Express, as one of the
foremost providers of travel related
services, has long recognized the
importance of preserving the world's
historic sites and monuments. They are
prime motivators for travel around the
globe, and are critical to the quality of
life in communities and nations. The
restoration of the Khami National Monument
is representative of American Express's
dedication to Zimbabwe, its culture,
history, and future"
Zimbabwe,
Khami National Monument,
Bulawayo.
Photo:
National Museum and Monument. For further
information on the Khami National
Monument, please contact: Dawson Munjeri
in Harare, Zimbabwe- 263.4.752.876, fax
263.4.753.085.
44-171-976-4540,
fax 44-171-931-0433
or e-mail Africa Travel Magazine at:
africa@dowco.com
Ms.
Mary Hatendi
Director
ZIMBABWE TOURIST OFFICE
1270 6th Avenue, # 412
NEW YORK, NY 10017
Tel: (212) 332-1090
Fax: (212) 332-109
Zimbabwe
Tourist Office
PO Box 9398, Johannesburg,2000
(11) 622-5740/47/50/51/52
Fax (11) 622-5757
Tourism
Connections USA
Africa
Travel Association, 347 Fifth Ave., Suite
610, New York, NY 10016, phone
212-447-1926, fax 212-725-8253
E-Mail:
africatravelasso@aol.com
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