Clive Thabo Dube & Angelah Nothando Mlotshwa.
WHEN one looks forward to celebrating their birthday, they plan ahead making all the necessary arrangements and informing all those close, and related to them.
In January 2020, Bulawayo City Council (BCC) declared June 1, to be the birthday of the Royal City, to celebrate the arrival of the Ndebele Monarch led by King Mzilikazi in 1839.
The celebrations are intertwined with Bulawayo celebrating its town status which was carved into stone by Dr. Leander Starr Jameson on June 1, 1894.
The City Fathers are however not doing justice to this birthday. Invitations to join in on the commemorations were given out on the last minute ahead of the event, taking into consideration that not many Bulawayans know that June 1 is Bulawayo Day.
The Performing Arts industry’s is the only clique vexed with this knowledge but then again these individuals seemingly do not play the ambassadorial role to conscientious the masses about the City’s important day.
Given the fact that there were more entertainers than the spectators at the venue chosen to celebrate the day.
Most of Makokoba residents didn’t even know that there were celebrations being held at Stanley Hall and Stanley Square right next door to them. The realization came after witnessing the City Fathers gathering and hearing loud sounds of music from the Public Address system coming from the venue. To make matters worse, children were in absentia. Only a few of Mkhithika Thebe Primary School and Tategulu Primary School children were present to watch their peers perform.
Had it not been that children from these schools were performing on the day, their supporters would not have set foot at Stanley Square.
Secondly, had those involved in the administerial role of planning the Bulawayo Day commemorations planned ahead of time, the event would have been held at a bigger venue like White City Stadium on a weekend to accommodate many people since 1June fell during the week (Thursday).
Not taking away anything from the iconic and historical venue.
What council ought to have done was to attach reminder notes on water bills, place fliers all over the city and council owned facilities or even Council vehicles, informing the public of this very important day and where it will be held.
Stanley Square and Stanley Hall, the first community driven national monument
To acknowledge the 129 years of the City of Kings and Queens’ existence, Bulawayo residents gathered at Stanley Hall and Stanley Square. The commemorations were held under the theme “Our Culture, Our Heritage, Our Creativity”. Stanley Square and Stanley Hall is situated in the vicinity of Bulawayo’s oldest suburb, Makokoba.
Director of Housing and Community Services Doctor Khumalo, National Monuments and Museums of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) archeologist Todini Runganga, historian Phathisa Nyathi, Chief Khulumani Mathema of Gwanda, Deputy Mayor Mlandu Ncube representing His Worship, the Mayor Solomon Mguni and Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon. Judith Ncube were amongst the dignitaries present.
The community hall was declared a national monument in 2017. Making it the first community driven national monument, Todini Ranganga of the National Monuments and Museums of Zimbabwe said.
“We appreciate that world-over heritage is highly protected. Our music, our structures as Zimbabwe likewise we also protect them. Heritage also marks special events in our lives, the celebrations and ceremonies which we do. Heritage also builds pride in us and also motivates us as people.” Said Runganga.
He added that to protect the heritage which is deemed to be of national significance, there is an Act called National Museums and Monuments Act of Zimbabwe. The act is implemented through an agency of a government (NMMZ) and the national monuments concept is driven through this statutory.
“In 2017 Stanley Hall and Stanley Square (community driven) joined the list of being National Monuments which includes places like Victoria Falls, Khami (Ruins) amongst others, so these are place which we ought to protect”. He said.
To celebrate the City’s historical background, embracing the arts was the order of the day and entertainment acts made headlines of the day. Various actors showcased their artistry, proving indeed Bulawayo is a cultural hub.
But having the arts overshadow the origin tales of the city will in future make Bulawayo forget its origin and shun its identity observance. Luckily enough the current generation still has the admired historian Phathisa Nyathi amongst their midst.
“To some people this day is important as being the day when Bulawayo was declared a town on June 1st, 1893. But you see in my case, ‘am culturally conscious, political conscious and therefore what we are celebrating when we choose the 1st of June is colonial conquest. That is what Bulawayo today is celebrating. You can’t run away from it, it’s reality but we have some people in our mist who are not perhaps culturally conscious nor politically conscious and will see nothing wrong with the 1st of June as you rightly express it. Bulawayo was established about 1881 after the relocation of what we now call old Bulawayo.
“I have made it clear that my position will never ever change. I am very loyal to the former Ndebele state and I will speak for it where there are no people who stand for it. However we recognize that what then happened is conquest. But in terms of some aspects of culture there was continuity. It is that culture which is still predominantly Ndebele culture and there have been continuity, it is worthy celebrating despite this lack of political consciousness which I am talking about.” Said Nyathi.
Bulawayo Day is a day to celebrate Zimbabwe’s second largest city’s status as a town but more importantly showcase its rich culture and heritage. Making the venue chosen befitting to celebrate the City of Kings and Queens ‘ 129 years.
The 1936 built Stanley Hall has accommodated political figures dating back to the colonial era and has given birth to inspired influential Arts Guru’s. But the historical hall has been neglected for years.
BCC recently embarked on a drive to renovate the once home to the country’s icons, national heroes and liberators.
The hall is a valuable symbol reflecting what transpired in Bulawayo during the 1800s and 1900s.
“We are here in Makokoba. It is an important site, historically important for example the corpse of the late Dr. Parirenyatwa left for Harare from here, George Silundika’s wedding took place here so there were lot of trade union movements in the 1960s. They all took place here, so this was kind of the nerve center for Makokoba. So for those who want to create cultural, political, social chains its important that you understand all these facets about Makokoba.”
Phathisa Nyathi further stated that it is importance to unpack the history and factors that led to the creation of this landscape. Which will liberate the born free generation from the shackles of western indoctrination.
Phathisa Nyathi perpetually criticized BCC for failing to hold on to its history for future generations. The local authority’s fault for not preserving the founding principles of Bulawayo and passing on teachings of its history is on full display for all to see. Leaving many youths unaware of their origin.
He however celebrated the fact that the City still has held on to the Mercedes Benz which the late Father Zimbabwe, Dr. Joshua Nkomo survived an attempted assassination under the late former President Robert Mugabe government.
Other historical symbols which speak milestones, events, gains, prosperity and heritage of the city are nowhere to be seen. They are either dumped or sold off. Preservation of historical monuments to be appreciated by the locals is given little or no attention at all by the council.