Online Reporter
Mkhululi Ncube, Zimpapers Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has entered high-level talks with the City of Reading in the United Kingdom to forge a strategic partnership aimed at ending the city’s perennial water crisis through advanced climate research and infrastructure management.
The initiative follows a visit to Bulawayo by Reading Mayor Dr Alice Mpofu-Coles, a Bulawayo-born academic and senior research fellow at the University of Reading, who paid a courtesy call on Bulawayo Mayor Councillor David Coltart and Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube, on Tuesday last week.
During the meeting, the leaders discussed avenues for co-operation between the two cities, particularly in climate change adaptation, water security and innovation-driven development.
Dr Mpofu-Coles said Bulawayo could benefit significantly from leveraging Reading’s research expertise, especially through academic collaboration between institutions in the two cities.
“Climate change is a serious global issue and it is important for councils and communities to work together to raise awareness and find practical solutions. There is a strong possibility of co-operation between the University of Reading and Bulawayo-based institutions to conduct research on climate change and water management,” she said.
Dr Mpofu-Coles noted that water security was central to economic growth, stressing that development efforts would be futile without reliable water supplies.
“We can talk about business growth, but without water it becomes a non-starter. The second area is economic strategy, where Reading’s council team can share experiences on how to stimulate local economies,” said Dr Mpofu-Coles, adding that further engagements could be arranged to concretise the partnership.
Reading is widely regarded as Britain’s “Silicon Valley” due to the high concentration of information technology firms based in the city.
Clr Coltart said climate change-induced water shortages posed the single biggest challenge facing Bulawayo and welcomed the prospect of international collaboration. He said a partnership between the University of Reading and the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) could help them better understand climate patterns and develop long-term solutions to the city’s water crisis.
He also urged Dr Mpofu-Coles to help promote Bulawayo’s tourism and economic potential in the United Kingdom.
Clr Coltart said the UK represents a huge potential market for tourism and investment, adding that such linkages could play a role in revitalising the local economy.
Mr Dube said the city was keen to strengthen co-operation in research and innovation, noting that Dr Mpofu-Coles’ dual role as a mayor and academic placed her in a unique position to facilitate collaboration.
“Research and innovation are critical to development. There are many areas where we can co-operate, particularly by taking advantage of your experience as both a researcher and civic leader,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking at a reception dinner held in her honour on Tuesday night, Dr Mpofu-Coles commended
Bulawayo’s architectural heritage and untapped tourism potential.
“The city’s buildings are special and fascinating. We are not doing enough to market Bulawayo’s historic architecture.
People who see pictures of these buildings often ask where they are located and when they are told it is Bulawayo, they express a strong desire to visit,” she said.
Dr Mpofu-Coles, who was elected Mayor of Reading in May this year, said the city’s heritage, combined with strategic marketing and infrastructure development, could position Bulawayo as a major tourism destination.
Bongani Ndlovu