The Conservation sub-sector is mainly concerned with restoration of historical buildings and identification and preservation of historical and archaeological sites. Museums in this sub-sector deal with identification, study, procurement, care and display of objects of high and lasting historical interest and value.

Except for the Village Museum in Dar es Salaam, museums have remained fairly underdeveloped and inactive. The Government offers minimal support to almost all museums due to lack of funds. There are very few private museums in the county. The Bujora museum in Mwanza and Bagamoyo Catholic Museum in Bagamoyo are the only private museums in the country that are performing very well.

Generally, museums in Tanzania have tended to be places for tourists. Tanzanians have not been enthusiastic patrons. However, recently the trend is being reversed with more visits by Tanzanians than by foreign tourists.

The major problems affecting this sub-sector are:

1. Lack of awareness by the general public,


2. Acute shortage of working facilities,


3. Services not reaching the majority of the people.

Priority Needs

• Publicising the constituency
• Public Awareness building for people to appreciate and preserve cultural heritage.
• Documentation
• Bringing constituency services closer to the people.
• To search for new areas/ objects worthy preservation, identify new preservation methods and increase collections
• Enhance efficiency of service
• Training of personnel and the civil society in identification of sites and objects deserving preservation/ protection
  

Actors

This constituency is comprised of museums, archives and antiquities.
The focal point of this sub-sector is the National Museum, Dar es Salaam.

Contact:
The National Museum,
P.O Box 511,
Dar es Salaam.
Tel. : +255-22-2451330,
Mobile :0741 268422 (from outside TZ +255-741-268422).
E-mail: museumhq@omnisys.co.tz

Supported Projects

Up to the present, a total of 50 projects within this constituency have received funds from Mfuko between 1999 and 2004. This accounts for 17% of all projects supported since Mfuko's inception.
In year 2004 alone, eleven projects are supported, of which nine (82%) are devoted to capacity building.

List of 2004 grantees

Project supported Location Category of grantees Type of project supported Kikukwe Community Development Initiative Kagera Group Training on traditional textile design and production. Dar Es Salaam University Press Stakeholders from various regions. Educational institution Publishing a book "Guidelines for Establishment and Management of Museums" Southern Highlands Fruits & Coffee Growers Alliance Iringa, Njombe Non-governmental organisation Re-establishing the art of iron smelting and ironsmith. Training on iron smelting and ironsmith to small-scale artisan Baraza la Makumbusho ya Majimaji Mila na Desturi Ruvuma, Songea Group Training to group staff and members on managing and running the museum. University of Dar es Salaam, Archaeology Unit. Stakeholders from various regions Educational institution Research on traditional ironsmith technologies The Village Museum Stakeholders from various regions Institution Improvement of educational and preservation activities at the museum. Waganga wa Jadi Tarafa ya Geita (WAJATAGE) Mwanza, Geita. Group Establishment of a traditional herbal trees nursery and garden. Radio Tanzania Dar es Salaam Stakeholders from all regions Government institution Publicity and promotion of historical and cultural sites in Tanzania. National Museum NationalDar es Salaam Government institution Workshop on laws and regulations covering cultural heritage. Bweranyangye Traditional Museum and Culture Kagera, Karagwe. Non-governmental organisation Research on how to establish Bweranyangye Cultural Centre. Cultural Heritage constituency Various regions Institutional Capacity building within the constituency