The African state of Zimbabwe is paying homage to reggae king Bob Marley.

Internet reports indicate that Martin Chemhere, the arts consultant to the Zimbabwean Government, is proposing that a statue be erected at Rufaro Stadium in Harare, where Marley performed.

“I’m thrilled to have finally succeeded in this project for our beautiful country,” Chemhere is being quoted as saying.

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

The reports further state that there are some conditions to erecting the statue in the popular country. 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 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 explained.

The consultant also disclosed that the eight-metre 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 ocated at the Union Buildings of South Africa’s Parliament in Pretoria, South Africa.

Marley was born on February 6 and died in 1981, after battling cancer, at the age of 36.