National Monuments of Zimbabwe


The National Monuments of Zimbabwe are protected and promoted in accordance with the National Museums and Monuments Act 1972. This law replaced the colonial-era Monuments and Relics Act 1936, which in turn replaced the 1902 Ancient Monuments Protection Ordinance and 1912 Bushmen Relics Ordinance. The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe is the body responsible for maintaining the Archaeological Survey, the national inventory of monuments and sites. In April 2000 there were approximately 14,000 entries on the Archaeological Survey, of which 118 were National Monuments. 79 National Monuments had been declared under the old system by 1954. By 1980, the register had grown to over 3,000 sites and 169 declared monuments.

National Monuments

The National Monuments register includes the following sites:
SiteLocationDateCommentsCoordinatesImage
Great ZimbabweMasvingo11-15th centuriesUNESCO World Heritage Site
KhamiBulawayo15-17th centuriesUNESCO World Heritage Site
Domboshawa CaveDomboshawaAncient rock art
ZiwaNyanga17-18th centuriesUNESCO Tentative List
National Heroes AcreHarare1981
Mashonaland West Provincial Heroes AcreMashonaland WestSite of the Battle of Sinoia
Matobo Rock Art SitesMatobo National ParkUNESCO World Heritage Site
Tsindi
Harleigh Farm
Diana’s Vow
Chamavara
Zinjanja
Majiri
Alter site
Kagumbudzi
Matendera
Jumbo Mine
Dambarare
Fort Makaha
Tohwechipi’s Grave