News Day
29 October 2012
TWO Cabinet ministers from the Matabeleland region have pledged to lobby their colleagues in government to allocate funds for renovating the Bulawayo National Museum in the next National Budget.
The campaign was being spearheaded by Education minister David Coltart and Public Works minister Joel Gabuza.
Both ministers reportedly toured the facility in the company of engineers last week following reports that its roof was almost collapsing.
“The Minister of Public Works and I were in a meeting at the museum so we could assess the impact of damage to the building.
“They are now going to get a report so we could present it to Parliament.
“The minister (Gabuza) will use the report to make an effort to include the issue in the Budget,†Coltart said.
The final session of Parliament opens tomorrow and is set to be dominated by the 2013 National Budget which Finance minister Tendai Biti is expected to present next month.
The Bulawayo National Museum was officially opened in 1964 and contains valuable historical exhibits illustrating Zimbabwean history, including the second largest mounted elephant in the world.
All the exhibits were reportedly in danger of water damage as the roof needed $50 000 worth of repairs.