Bulawayo museum receives Yale donation to boost fossil preservation

By Ndumiso Tshuma

The United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Pamela Tremont, on Thursday unveiled a donation of specialist fossil storage cabinets to the Natural History Museum in Bulawayo, strengthening scientific and educational collaboration between Zimbabwe and the United States.

The 16 specimen cabinets, donated by the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, are designed to help organise, store, and protect the museum’s extensive fossil collections, including some of Africa’s oldest dinosaur remains.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Tremont said the donation symbolised a shared commitment to preserving global heritage.

“These fossils are millions of years old. They predate Zimbabwe. They predate the United States. They are all of our histories,” she said. “Preserving them for research, science, and future generations is in all of our interests. I hope these cabinets are extremely useful in your important work.”

The donation was facilitated by Dr. Moira FitzPatrick, Director of the Natural History Museum, and Dr. Chris Griffin, Assistant Professor of Geosciences at Princeton University, who previously conducted postdoctoral research at Yale. Dr. Griffin was part of the international team that discovered Mbiresaurus raathi in 2017, the oldest known dinosaur fossil found in Africa, dating back 230 million years.

Assistant Curator of Palaeontology Michel Zondo showcased some of the Mbiresaurus fossils during the event and highlighted the museum’s ongoing research and education efforts.

Acting Museum Director Violah Makuvaza thanked the US Embassy and Yale University for their support, calling the cabinets “symbols of valuable partnership and collaboration.”

“They are a testament to the forward-thinking support from Yale University and the American Embassy, whose collective efforts ensure that future palaeontological research and education will continue to grow,” she said.

Makuvaza added that the museum played a crucial role in public education, scientific inquiry, and the preservation of Zimbabwe’s natural history, and that international cooperation was essential to its continued success.

Dr. Griffin, who attended the event virtually, praised the museum’s central role in international palaeontological work.

“This partnership simply wouldn’t have happened without the scientists and staff at the museum, and all the logistical support it provides,” he said. “The museum really is the ‘home base’ for these expeditions, driven by the expertise of Zimbabwean scientists and the institutional support on the ground.”

The handover was held alongside the annual U.S. Fulbright Exchange lecture, which this year featured Dr. Jennifer Kyker of the University of Rochester. Dr. Kyker delivered a presentation on the life and work of renowned Zimbabwean photographer Chicago Dzviti.

The event was part of a series of engagements by the US Embassy at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, aimed at promoting American trade, investment, and educational partnerships in Zimbabwe.