The 2018 World Museums Commemoration Day held at the Gweru Military Museum and Monuments recorded a 68 percent increase in attendance owing to the museum’s partnership with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA).
By Delicious Mathuthu and Dumisani Ndlovu
Central Region Assistance Curator of archaeology, Mr Takudzwa Pasipanodya, speaking during the World Museum Commemoration Day held recently at the museum said the institution had upped its innovative drive in promoting domestic tourism by imploring citizens and institutions to frequent museums and monuments through tours.
“We had to partner with National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority in promoting domestic tourism since our core businesses complement each other,” Pasipanodya said.
He said last year about 265 people attended the commemorations as compared to this year’s 447, owing to the massive combined efforts by the three institutions in information dissemination.
This year’s event was running under the theme “Hyper connected museums, new approach, new publics, new communities and new society”
“In this year theme we are trying to connect our museum to different publics, different communities and different societies so that people can have an understanding that museums are not meant for certain individuals or a particular people but we are only there to serve the society,” Pasipanodya said.
He said exhibits do not only inspire interest in areas of study such as items used, the time period or ideas but has more going on in regards to education than one might think.
“There are lots of values that are within museum institutions; we have scientific benefits, which are mostly educational.
“We have younger and older people who don’t even know how an aeroplane or an engine looks like, our Liberation struggle history, the likes of Nehanda and Lobengula and so it’s very important for our communities as they learn about our African Heritage and get authentic information about our past,” the Museum boss said.
Museums are examples of informal learning environments, as Pasipanodya says, which means they are devoted primarily to informal education a lifelong process whereby individuals acquire attitudes, values, skills and knowledge from daily experiences and the educative influences and resources their environment.
The Gweru Military Museum opened its doors to the public on the 24th of January 1974 as the Midlands Museum, which was changed to the current name in 1985.
