This article critically assesses how heritage has been appropriated in various contexts to create national, partisan, and corporate identities in Zimbabwe. Using iconography, we attempt to establish how various players have created visual identities based on iconic archaeological artefacts and places. We discern that archaeological evidence has played a vital role in the invention and re-invention of national identity and patriotic iconography. Archaeological evidence has influenced the branding of corporate bodies, including universities, which are the major focus of this paper. Visual manifestations of the ancient Zimbabwe Culture ( madzimbahwe), especially Great Zimbabwe, dominate the branding process. The Zimbabwe bird, Conical Tower, and motifs associated with the drystone built heritage form the key visual elements in the country’s branding enterprise. We advance the argument that the period associated with madzimbahwe has been projected as the only ‘Golden Age’ of ancient Zimbabwe. Consequently, other heritages, diverse histories, and past cultural achievements have been marginalised.

Museums in Zimbabwe often face several conservation challenges caused by different agents of deterioration. The Batonga Community Museum find it challenging to maintain and properly take care of the collections on display. This chapter examines the effectiveness of the conservation strategies being employed at the BCM. The study made use of qualitative and ethnographic research approaches. The majority of collections at the BCM are deteriorating at an unprecedented level. The study gathered that bats have posed serious and extreme conservation challenges as well as affected the presentation of exhibitions. The chapter concludes that bats are the main problem bedeviling the museum and needs immediate control.

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Zimbabwe has a rich railway heritage that includes rail engines, wagons, coaches, trolleys, ticket rooms, rail stations, and tracks. The National Railway Museum of Zimbabwe (NRMZ) has a long history in providing railway transport and have contributed to the social, economic, and political lives of Zimbabweans. The NRMZ is the only institution that collects, preserve, and display railway heritage. This study investigates the effectiveness of the NRMZ in conserving railway heritage. This study employed qualitative research methodology. It is revealed that railway collections are deteriorating at unprecedented levels. The major agents of deterioration include relative humidity, temperature, pollution, pests and rodents as well as human factors. The study concludes that the NRMZ is employing ineffective conservation strategies and the museum is likely to lose more collections if they do not prioritize preventive conservation, develop collections, and disaster management policies.

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