Angola Former Vice President watering the Angola Solidarity Tree at the Liberation Museum.
By Brenda Mazhambe and William Muchingamiri
Angola’s former Vice President, H.E. Bornito de Sousa, this Saturday, paid a courtesy visit to Liberation City, a flagship Pan-African heritage and education site, where he commended the depth of work underway and the notable progress achieved in preserving Africa’s liberation history.
During the visit, H.E. de Sousa toured the Liberation City Museum, an institution dedicated to documenting Africa’s anti-colonial struggles, revolutionary movements, and the shared sacrifices that shaped the continent’s independence. The museum serves as a living archive—housing artefacts, narratives, and educational programmes that connect younger generations to Africa’s liberation legacy while promoting unity, self-determination, and Pan-African consciousness.
H.E. Bornito de Sousa served as Angola’s Vice President from September 2017 to September 2022 under President João Lourenço, having previously served as Minister of Territory Administration from 2010 to 2017
In a powerful gesture of solidarity and remembrance, the former Vice President participated in the ceremonial watering of the Angola Solidarity Tree. These trees, entrusted to various nations and maintained by their embassies alongside the Museum staff, stand as living symbols of Angola’s historic contributions to the liberation struggles across the African continent.
Angola played a critical role in Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, providing safe training bases, logistical support, and strategic guidance to ZIPRA cadres during the Second Chimurenga. At Boma Camp, over 300 freedom fighters lost their lives in a 1979 attack while undergoing training, alongside Angolan and Cuban allies, highlighting the sacrifices made in the pursuit of independence.
The visit to Liberation City offers a poignant reminder of this historic partnership, as the museum preserves the legacy of these fighters and educates future generations about the solidarity between Zimbabwe and Angola, which was instrumental in sustaining the liberation movement and fostering Pan-African unity.
H.E. de Sousa praised Liberation City for its role as a continental memory site and learning hub, noting that such institutions are vital for safeguarding Africa’s history, fostering patriotism, and inspiring future leadership grounded in the values of sacrifice, resilience, and collective progress.
Ambassador Kwame Muzawazi the CEO of INSTAK has been at the forefront of advancing Liberation City as a premier Pan-African cultural and historical destination. Ambassador Muzawazi’s leadership has been instrumental in mobilising regional and international partnerships, expanding educational outreach, and positioning the museum as a reference point for Africa’s liberation narrative.
Liberation City continues to attract high-level visitors, scholars, and cultural leaders, reinforcing its growing stature as a cornerstone of African heritage preservation and a platform for dialogue on the continent’s past, present, and future.
