Country Summary for ZIMBABWE

Definitions

“Ancient monument” means any—

(a) building, ruin or structure or remaining portion of a building, ruin or structure; or

(b) statue, grave, cave, rock shelter, midden, shell mound or other site or thing of a similar kind; which is known or believed to have been erected, constructed or used in Zimbabwe before the 1st January, 1890, but does not include an ancient working;

“Monument” means any—

(a) ancient monument; or

(b) area of land which—

i. is of historical, archaeological, palaeontological or other scientific value or interest;

ii. or has a distinctive geological formation; or

(c) waterfall, cave, grotto, avenue of trees,  old tree or old building or remaining portion of an old building; or

(d) other object,  whether natural or constructed by man, of historical, archaeological or other scientific value or interest.

“National monument” means  a monument which has been declared in terms of § 20(1) to be a national monument.

“Relic” means any—

(a) fossil of any kind; or

(b) drawing or painting on stone or petroglyph known or commonly believed to have been executed in Zimbabwe prior to the 1st January, 1890; or

(c) weapon, implement, utensil or ornament of historical, archaeological or other scientific value or interest known or commonly believed to have been used in Zimbabwe prior to the 1st January, 1890; or

(d) anthropological or archaeological contents of any ancient monument or ancient working; or

(e) other object, whether natural or made or executed by man, of historical, archaeological or other scientific value or interest which is prescribed as being a relic for the purposes of this Act.

“Specimen” means any object held by the Board for the purpose of exhibition, research or study. (NMMA § 2)

Registry

The Board [of trustees, to be known as the Trustees of the National Museums and Monuments] shall […] compile and keep a register of all national monuments and of any relics that it has acquired or that have been brought to its notice. (NMMA § 4 (2)(d))