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ZANU–PF Building

Coordinates: 17°49′47″S 31°02′22″E / 17.829761741474474°S 31.039345377255696°E / -17.829761741474474; 31.039345377255696
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ZANU–PF Building
Map
Alternative namesThe "Shake Shake" building
General information
Architectural stylePostmodern
AddressCorner of Samora Machel Avenue & Rotten Row
Town or cityHarare
CountryZimbabwe
Coordinates17°49′47″S 31°02′22″E / 17.829761741474474°S 31.039345377255696°E / -17.829761741474474; 31.039345377255696
Current tenantsZANU–PF
Construction startedLate 1980s
Completed1990
OwnerZANU–PF
Technical details
Floor count15
Design and construction
Architect(s)Peter Martin
Tony Wales-Smith

The ZANU–PF Building is a 15-story high-rise building in Harare, Zimbabwe, which serves as the headquarters of ZANU–PF, the country's ruling party. The top floors of the building hold the offices of the ZANU–PF Politburo, lower floors hold other party offices, and the first floor is home to the ZANU Archives, which holds many records from the Rhodesian Bush War.[1][2][3] The building hosts annual meetings of the party's politburo, central committee, and other organizations.[4][5]

Location

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The ZANU–PF Building is located in Harare, Zimbabwe, at the corner of Samora Machel Avenue and Rotten Row, next to Willoughby Crescent.[2]

History

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Fundraising for a new ZANU–PF headquarters began on 24 October 1983, when the party set a goal of raising Z$15 million in one year.[6] Ultimately paid for by the Chinese Communist Party, construction began in the late 1980s, and the building was completed in 1990.[1][7][8][9] Constructed during the post-independence building boom, the ZANU–PF Building, unlike many others at the time, was designed by Zimbabwean architects, Peter Martin and Tony Wales-Smith.[8][9] At the time of its completion, it was the tallest building in Harare.[7] It became nicknamed the "Shake Shake" building, for its resemblance to Chibuku Shake Shake, a type of sorghum beer sold in cartons.[8]

Architecture

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The ZANU–PF Building is a 15-story grey concrete structure, topped by a large emblem of a cockerel, a symbol of ZANU–PF.[1][7][8] It is of the postmodern style, and is sometimes described as Brutalist.[8][10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Blair, David (2002). Degrees in Violence: Robert Mugabe and the Struggle for Power in Zimbabwe. Continuum. pp. 4. ISBN 9780826459749.
  2. ^ a b "Zanu-PF Building". Pindula. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  3. ^ Lyons, Tanya (2004). Guns and Guerilla Girls: Women in the Zimbabwean National Liberation Struggle. Africa World Press. p. 61. ISBN 9781592211678.
  4. ^ "Zanu-PF Politburo meets". The Chronicle. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  5. ^ "The 107th Zanu-PF Extraordinary Central Committee meeting in session at party headquarters in Harare on Thursday". The Sunday Mail. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  6. ^ Independent Zimbabwe. Department of Information, Government of Zimbabwe. 1983. p. 16.
  7. ^ a b c Lamb, Christina (2007). House of Stone: The True Story of a Family Divided in War-torn Zimbabwe. Chicago Review Press. p. 128. ISBN 9781556527357.
  8. ^ a b c d e Blueprint. Wordsearch Limited. 2003. p. 68.
  9. ^ a b Vaughan, Richard (April 1994). Zimbabwe, Africa's paradise. CBC Publishing. p. 60. ISBN 9780951520932.
  10. ^ "ZANU PF Headquarters, Harare | 341096 | EMPORIS". Emporis. Retrieved 14 May 2018.[dead link]