The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation UNESCO has passed a resolution, instructing the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland to return the Broken Hill Man Skull to Zambia.
The resolution was passed during the 24th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin.
The resolution highlights the need for Zambia and UK to come up with a roadmap on the return of the skull which should be submitted to the 25th session of the committee.
The committee supported the legitimate grounds advanced by Zambia when the case came up for discussion, headed by Special Envoy to the President Lazarous Kapambwe, highlighting the spiritual importance and connection of the skull to the identity and history of Zambia.
The counterproposal from the UK did not include the return of the skull hence the two parties reached a deadlock.
Additionally, the Director General Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from the UK, Polly Payne stated that the UK does not agree to the return of the skull as such suggesting a roadmap would be in bad faith.
However, in his submission, Ambassador Kapambwe underscored the ancestral significance of the Broken Hill Man Skull to Zambia’s cultural heritage.
He underlined the connection of the skull to the Zambians, calling for its return to reconnect with the people and rest its spirit in accordance with the customs.
This is contained in a statement issued to RCV News by First Secretary Press at the Zambia Embassy in France, Naomi Mweemba.
Chimba Chilopa / Angel Kasabo
