Dutywa-based Mbhashe Local Municipality says it’s planning to use heritage conservation, and tourism development, to unlock economic activity that will create job opportunities for many in its jurisdiction that are currently unemployed.
One of the heritage and historical initiatives the municipality plans to use to achieve this is the Battle of Lurwayizo, a significant and yet undocumented bloody battle between uMkhonto we Sizwe guerillas, the then military wing of the ANC, and the joint force from Transkei and South Africa, in 1987.
Last week, the municipality hosted a series of consultative events which culminated in the launch and commemoration of the Battle of Lurwayizo held at Lurwayizo village in Willowvale on January 27, 1987.
The municipality has also partnered with William & Mary University in Virginia in the United States of America, in its heritage conservation endeavours.
Academics, Erica Garroutte and Dr Iyabo Obasanjo, from the university’s Institute for Integrative Conservation also visited the local municipality, from January 24 to 27, as part of the build-up to the Battle of Lurwayizo commemorative event.
“Our goal is to find ways that we can help support community-based and community-led conservation initiatives which take a broad approach looking at human well-being, human livelihood and economic development, as well as biodiversity conservation.”
“This region [Mbhashe Local Municipality] is well known for its rich biodiversity and history, and it’s critical that communities here lead the efforts on conservation. We are here to see if there are ways to collaborate and support the municipality’s conservation and community development efforts,” said Garroutte.
Dr Obasanjo said the municipality must use both heritage and history conservation to unlock economic development opportunities.
“This is a huge opportunity for tourism. There is the conservation aspect, and then the history aspect and both can be used as an instrument for economic development for the local municipality,” she said.
Eastern Cape Education MEC, Fundile Gade, who attended the welcoming of the delegation from the USA on behalf of the provincial government, also welcomed the partnership between the Mbhashe Local Municipality and the university.
“This will help the municipality repurpose some of the natural resources that it has and equally build a formidable layer of economic growth and development,” Gade said.
The uMkhonto we Sizwe veterans who were part of the Battle of Lurwayizo have proposed several development initiatives in the area that would serve to conserve history while also attracting tourists to the scene of the battle.
