The Government of Sweden is providing USD 1 million for the resuscitation of the Harare City Library. The project is being managed by the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust. This financial support will go towards renovating the infrastructure of the Harare City Library building in Rotten Row. The Swedish support will lead to the preservation of this building, which is of architectural and aesthetic importance to the City of Harare. It is envisaged that, in ten years’ time, it will become a protected building in accordance with the Museums and Monuments Act.

According to Mr. Farai Mpfunya, the Executive Director of the Culture Fund, ‘this support is a catalytic fuel in the library’s quest to develop into a modern, world-class library service provider’.

The Government of Sweden, a strong supporter of the culture sector in Zimbabwe, believes that knowledge is paramount to development as it provides a basic condition for lifelong learning, independent decision-making, and the cultural development of the individual and social groups. Mr. Magnus Carlquist, Chargé d´Affaires a.i. at the Embassy of Sweden in Harare, indicated that ‘the support to the Harare City Library will solve the problem of lack of knowledge by providing a conducive environment for people to access information as well as injecting new life into the civic centre of Harare’. Mr. Carlquist emphasised the importance of transparency and accountability in the execution of the project, which will be managed by a committee involving representatives from Harare City Library and the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust.

http://www.culturefund.org.zw/index.php/2011-12-14-07-07-05/news-updates