An archival-documentary exhibition dedicated to the USSR and Russia's assistance to African countries in the struggle for independence was opened in Harare.

Preparation of the one-of-a-kind exposition took a year of hard work by various departments of the Russian State University for the Humanities, a partner of TV BRICS, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the Institute of African Studies of Zimbabwe (INSTAK).

The exhibition used materials from the state archives of Russia and Zimbabwe, as well as photographs from private archives of participants in the African liberation movement.

"The Zimbabwean people waged a long war against colonialism, the proteges of imperialism and the British settlers who mercilessly oppressed them," Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle of Zimbabwe Christopher Mutsvangwa said at the opening of the exhibition.

"A huge contribution to its successful completion was made by the USSR. Today is not just an exhibition opening day for us, it is a day of Russians in Zimbabwe. I adore Russia because your people are filled with patience, perseverance and heroism, in their long history they were able to defeat first Napoleon, then Nazi Germany in the Second World War," the minister added.

The exhibition is located on the territory of the memorial complex “City of Liberation”, which is being created in Harare. A Museum of African Liberation, other research and educational institutions and recreational facilities are being built on an area of about 100 hectares.

It is also planned to erect the first monument in Africa dedicated to the victory of the USSR in the Great Patriotic War.

Photo: RSUH