By Dickson Bandera
The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) and Zimbabwe’s Institute of African Knowledge (INSTAK) have formalised a strategic partnership aimed at preserving the shared liberation heritage between Cuba and Africa.
The development follows a high-level meeting held on 9 June 2025 at ICAP headquarters in Havana.
The Zimbabwean delegation was led by Ambassador Kwame Muzawazi, INSTAK Chief Executive Officer, and Brigadier-General Million Ndlovu of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
They were hosted by ICAP President Fernando González Llort—Hero of the Republic of Cuba and a veteran of the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale—alongside other senior ICAP officials including Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, Vice-President Víctor Gaute López, and Director for Africa and the Middle East, Yahimí Rodríguez Flores.
The meeting centred on formalising collaboration in documenting and promoting Cuba’s role in Africa’s decolonisation process, particularly its military and diplomatic involvement in Angola during the 20th century.
In a joint resolution, ICAP and INSTAK committed to co-authoring a comprehensive historical publication that will serve as an educational resource and archival reference for future generations. The Zimbabwean delegation pledged a contribution of US$5,000 to support the project, with the funds to be disbursed through Zimbabwe’s Embassy in Cuba.
The publication will be linked to Africa Park in Havana—a memorial site honouring African liberation leaders. A statue of Zimbabwe’s founding president, Robert Mugabe, is set to be unveiled at the site later this year. The Zimbabwean delegation has been formally invited to the ceremony, which will underscore Cuba’s continued solidarity with African nations.
In a statement, Ambassador Muzawazi said the partnership represented “a critical step toward institutionalising the liberation narrative through credible, Pan-African platforms,” adding that “this work is essential in ensuring historical accuracy and global awareness.”
ICAP President González praised Zimbabwe’s efforts in memorialising the liberation struggle, particularly through the Museum of African Liberation in Harare. Supported by President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, the museum is a flagship Agenda 2063 project of the African Union and plays a central role in documenting Africa’s fight for independence.
The ICAP leadership also acknowledged Ambassador Muzawazi’s Guinness World Record for the longest lecture, which he has said was inspired by Fidel Castro’s iconic addresses at the United Nations.
Beyond the publication, both parties agreed to explore broader cooperation, including joint research initiatives, cultural exchange programmes, and advocacy efforts aimed at promoting historical truth and Afro-Cuban solidarity.
The partnership is expected to enhance institutional ties between Cuba and Zimbabwe while reaffirming the enduring legacy of internationalism in liberation movements across the Global South.
