Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
Harare City on Tuesday marked the 10th anniversary of its twinning arrangement with South Korea’s Cheonan, with Mayor Jacob Mafume hosting a delegation from the Asian city at Town House.
The commemorations brought together senior officials from both cities, including Cheonan Acting Mayor Kim Seokpil and South Korea’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Park Jae Kyung.
Speaking during the event, Clr Mafume said the partnership had provided a platform for cooperation and knowledge exchange in key areas of urban governance and sustainable development.
“Our twinning partnership has created an important platform for collaboration, exchange of ideas and mutual learning in areas that are central to effective urban governance and sustainable city development,” he said.
Clr Mafume said the arrangement had facilitated reciprocal exchange programmes involving executive personnel from the two cities, strengthening institutional capacity within the City of Harare.
He also acknowledged support from the South Korean government in capacitating local governance systems in Zimbabwe.
Acting Mayor Seokpil said the two cities had sustained meaningful cooperation since the signing of the friendship agreement in 2016.
“Since the signing of our friendship agreement back in 2016, our two cities have maintained meaningful cooperation,” he said.
He commended international exchange programmes initiated by his government, which have contributed to strengthening bilateral relations at the municipal level.
As part of the commemorations, the two city leaders exchanged gifts and planted an indigenous tree outside Town House along Leopold Takawira Street to symbolise the enduring partnership.
The twinning arrangement has seen Harare City officials travelling to South Korea for training and experience-sharing in local government administration.
Senior officials from the South Korean Embassy, Harare City councillors and municipal executives attended the event.
