By Dickson Bandera
A high-level Zimbabwean delegation has departed for Havana, Cuba, to sign a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will facilitate the transfer of historic military equipment used in the famed Battle of Cuito Cuanavale to Zimbabwe’s Museum of African Liberation.
The delegation is led by Ambassador Kwame Muzawazi, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of African Knowledge (INSTAK), who is spearheading the Pan-African heritage initiative. He is accompanied by Brigadier-General Million Ndlovu of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
Speaking ahead of the delegation’s departure, Ambassador Muzawazi described the forthcoming handover as “an immensely generous gesture by the people of Cuba to the people of Africa,” and one that would significantly enhance the stature of the Museum of African Liberation.
“This is equipment that was used in the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, which really was a defining moment in the history of Africa,” Muzawazi said.
“It signified the beginning of the end of apartheid, the independence of Namibia, and the victory of the Angolan people in their struggle for self-determination, peace and development.”
He emphasized that the arrival of authentic military artefacts would transform the Harare-based museum into a globally competitive institution.
“A five-star museum carries the spirit and the soul of the times gone by through tangibles,” Muzawazi said.
“The Museum of African Liberation will not be an information centre masquerading as a museum. These are the real artefacts that carry the spirit and the soul of Africa’s glorious past.”
INSTAK is set to sign the MoU with the Cuban Institute of Cultural Heritage, which is responsible for preserving and sharing Cuba’s historical and cultural assets.
“This is being transferred by the institute responsible for cultural and historical heritage to INSTAK, which operates at a Pan-African level to curate and safeguard African heritage,” Muzawazi said. “This will be our third visit to Cuba.
The first was in 2022 when Ambassador Simbarashe Mumbengegwi delivered a formal invitation on behalf of His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa. A follow-up technical mission refined the details, and now we are going to consummate the relationship.”
Cuba is the only non-African country that deployed its own troops to fight alongside African liberation forces. Its involvement in the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale—fought from November 1987 to March 1988—proved decisive. Cuban soldiers fought alongside Angolan and Namibian freedom fighters to halt and reverse the advance of apartheid South African forces.
The battle is widely regarded as a turning point that hastened Namibia’s independence and the collapse of apartheid in South Africa. The SADC region commemorates March 23, the final day of the battle, as Southern Africa Liberation Day.
Some Cuban items are already on display at the Museum of African Liberation following a ceremonial handover on March 3, 2025, by Esteban Lazo Hernández, President of the Cuban National Assembly.
Although physically located in Zimbabwe, the Museum is conceived as a Pan-African institution. It documents liberation movements from across Africa and recognizes both African and international actors who contributed to the continent’s fight for freedom—politically, militarily, diplomatically, and morally.
The museum is the centrepiece of Liberation City, a 101-hectare development led by INSTAK in Harare with support from the Government of Zimbabwe and international partners. Other components include a Heritage Village, a Liberation Mall, an animal park, a five-star hotel, and Presidential Villas.
Founded in 2017, INSTAK has positioned itself as a leading Pan-African think tank. Among its flagship initiatives are the Book of African Records and The Africa Factbook, produced in collaboration with the African Union.
The deepening collaboration between Zimbabwe and Cuba reflects a longstanding bond forged during the liberation struggle. From military and medical support during Zimbabwe’s war for independence to ongoing cooperation in education, health, and culture, Cuba has remained a steadfast ally.
The transfer of historic artefacts further underscores the enduring solidarity between the two nations and their shared commitment to preserving Africa’s liberation legacy.
