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Judith Phiri, Sunday News Reporter
A UNITED Kingdom-based Zimbabwean businessman has launched the Twinning Zimbabwe Town (TZT) programme in a bid to develop the country and improve on service delivery.
In an interview, the architect of the programme and chairman of TZT, Trusty Simbarashe Gushure said he approached the government of Zimbabwe for approval of the programme which they have been working tirelessly for it to be fruitful.
“I approached the government and established a relationship to launch a campaign of twinning all towns and cities in the country with those around the world. In an effort of implementing and capacitating the twinning of cities mandate with the Government of Zimbabwe through the Local Government Ministry, TZT members have been working tirelessly around the clock for the last couple of months from their bases abroad. TZT comprises of international and local based teams,” said Mr Gushure.
He added that he has met with the Mayor of Nottingham to discuss issues in line with twinning cities in his country of origin.
“I met with the Lord Mayor of the City of Nottingham his Lordship Liaqat Ali in regard to twinning of Zimbabwean cities. We discussed a varied cocktail of issues which included investment to the Southern African nation, the recently launched land reform compensation programme in Zimbabwe, sanctions to the country and how they are impacting services delivery,” he said.
Gushure also noted that they petitioned for the removal of sanctions which they believe is a hindrance to the twinning programme.
“In February the team handed out a petition and moved a motion in the House of Commons (UK) for the eradication of sanctions on Zimbabwe. Follow up letters to the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, Theresa May the United Kingdom Premier and to the leadership of the European Union denouncing these restrictive measures were duly sent.
“Over the last two months TZT members abroad in countries that include the United States, Canada and Great Britain have been working and tackling Zimbabwean related issues like the eradication of sanctions and foreign direct investment after our familiarisation tour of the country a couple of months ago. Sanctions are a yoke and instrument of impoverishment, oppression and suffering,” said Gushure.
He added: “A twinning arrangement between communities is whereby they come together in unity with the aim of facing up challenges and developing between themselves closer ties of friendship. The main objective being is the inclusion of cultural exchanges, technical exchanges, physical exchanges and sustainable relationships.
“A twinning arrangement can take place between small villages, towns, countries and big cities. It can focus on a whole range of issues and can involve a wide range of actors from two or more twinned communities. Historically, Zimbabwean towns and cities like Bulawayo and Harare where twinned with other cities around the world, however, over time most of the ties have been lost.”
Meanwhile, TZT and the Mayor of Nottingham lent a helping hand and expressed condolences to victims of the recent Cyclone Idai that affected eastern parts of the country.
“The Trust comprising of international and local based teams also lent their hand to the humanitarian relief efforts to victims and communities affected by the natural disaster Cyclone Idai.
“In his address to the press, His Lordship expressed his condolences to the people of Zimbabwe and launched a humanitarian campaign in Nottingham for the cyclone victims affected communities of Chimanimani and Chipinge in the eastern part of Zimbabwe,” said Gushure.
Gushure is the Chairman of the Equality and Fairness Commission (UK), an International Business Ambassador for the City of Nottingham (UK), Founder and CEO of Trusty Gold Global Group as well as the Co-Founder and Chairman Of Gifted4Good a charitable organisation.
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