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Armed Struggle Living Museum planned to commemorate the contribution of military veterans
Veterans of Mkhonto we Sizwe, who are active in the Border Region of the MK Veterans Association (MKVA), identified the development of a museum as an initiative that would benefit both themselves and the wider public. The project has been endorsed by the MKVA at both provincial and national levels, and have received their endorsements. The initiative is supported of the Amathole District Municipality, which has appointed the Human Science Research Council as project implementers.
The project proposes the creation of a living museum which is a reconstruction of an Mkhonto we Sizwe training camp in Angola. The modest buildings and facilities are intended to capture the spirit of commitment and sacrifice required of freedom fighters who had to train and survive with minimal resources far from home.
The facility will serve a triple function of informing the general public about this aspect of South Africa’s liberation struggle, providing facilities which upgrade the quality of life of a local low-income community and creating jobs for MK veterans and community members.
It requires a site which includes natural forest areas, is close enough to a needy community to engage meaningfully with it and is readily accessible for tourists.The Umtiza Forest, near the East London Airport has been identified as ideal on all three counts.
The activities envisaged as part of the living museum complex are designed to make it fully sustainable in the medium term future. All aspects of the living history museum will be developed from the collection of memories from former MK soldiers and the collection of memorabilia and artifacts from actual camps.
The project implmenters are eager to access photographs or descriptions of the MK, APLA and AZANLA camps in Angola and Tanzania.
If you are able to assist in any way, please contact Greg Houson of the HSRC email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or phone 012 3022727
