Zimbabwe is erecting an eight-meter bronze statue of music legend Bob Marley

Zimbabwe has been given the go-ahead to construct an eight-meter bronze statue in honor of Music legend Bob Marley.

Martin Chemhere , the arts consultant to the Zimbabwean government who has been in talks with the Marley’s estate pushing for the Statue was finally given the go ahead.

“I’m thrilled to have finally succeeded in this project for our beautiful country,” Chemhere said, according to TeleSur.

Marley famously performed at Zimbabwe’s independence celebrations in 1980, at the Rufaro stadium in Harare.

“The approval is a great achievement for Zimbabwe… as the statue will attract tourists.”

The Reggae star only performed in Zimbabwe in the entire African continent and composed a song ‘Zimbabwe’ in 1978 for the freedom fighters agitating for the country’s independence.

“The reason behind this statue is that of Africa’s more than 50 countries Bob Marley only performed in Zimbabwe as part of the country’s independence celebrations in 1980,” Chemhere explains.

During his Zimbabwe tour Mr. Marley covered all his expenses to and from the concert and rejected the performance fee, endearing himself to the Country.

Mr. Chemhere is proposing Rufaro stadium where Marley performed as the site of the statue.

As per the agreement with Marley’s family, the statue must be for the public and pre-approved by the Marley family.

Zimbabwe, or a private sponsor, must also cover all the costs of erecting it.

The bronze statue will be sculpted by two South African artists, Andre Prinsloo and Ruhan Janse Van Vuuren, who are best known for creating a Nelson Mandela statue which is located at the Parliament-Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa.