By Martin Muleya
Zimbabwe’s gospel diva Fungisai Zvakavepano Mashavave is expected to tour the Matendera heritage site Wednesday.
Mashavave who hails from Buhera was chosen to be the brand ambassador of the almost forgotten heritage site.
The 33 year old gospel diva hogged the limelight when she burst on the music scene as a 19 year old protege under the tutelage of veteran singer Elias Musakwa, with her debut album Tinokutendai Ishe Vol 1 that was released in the year 2000.
Njabulo Chipangura Mutare Museum Curator
In an interview early this week Mutare Museums and national monuments curator and archeologist Mr. Njabulo Chipangura said the tour by the gospel musician was a dress rehearsal for the Matendera festival expected to be held in August this year.
“Fungisai was chosen as our brand ambassador for the Matendera festival that we are preparing at the moment. The idea is we believe she is a popular figure and by making her our brand ambassador she will catapult Matendera monument to greatness,” he said.
Chipangura said the idea to market Matendera monument was mooted after discovering that the monument has structures that are constructed in the Great Zimbabwe Tradition architectural styles that include dressed stone walls, herringbone and dentelle decorations, and monoliths. The monument is arguably the largest of its type found in the province.
“Matendera heritage site is little known though it resembles similar architectural closure with Great Zimbabwe. We want people to know that apart from Great Zimbabwe there are many Zimbabwe type of sites which deserve recognition both in terms of domestic and international tourism,” said Chipangura.
Fungisai will also visit three other heritage sites namely Chiona, Muchuchu and Kagumbudzi all situated 50kilometres south east of Murambinda.
These according to Chipangura constitute the Buhera cluster of Zimbabwe sites which he said as Mutare Museums and National Monuments deserved to be known internationally to boost domestic tourism potential in Manicaland province.
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