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Vusumuzi Dube, Senior Reporter
TWINNING! This has been a concept that has been placed in high regard by majority of municipalities around the world. Cities and towns hold huge banquets whenever there is a twinning arrangement signed with other cities and towns, splashing out a lot of money in hosting the visiting delegation.
Town twinning, as an official relationship-builder, started in Europe after the Second World War. The idea was simple: Repair damaged relationships between France, Germany and the UK. Find towns that suffered during the wars and pair them. Then encourage people from these areas to meet, mix and get along.
For years there have been reports of various cities and towns in Zimbabwe entering into various twinning arrangements with their counterparts in other countries, be it regionally or internationally. Most cities have got one. Some even have several twinning arrangements although many people know nothing about them.
Closer home, Bulawayo has twinning arrangements with the Cities of Aberdeen in Scotland, eThekwini in South Africa and a memorandum of understanding with the City of Polokwane. Further, there have been a number of discussions with cities like Francistown of Botswana and Katima Mulilo of Namibia on possible arrangements with delegations from these cities visiting Bulawayo and the local authority holding expensive banquets to honour the visitors.
In all these the media has been quick to write colourful articles on “deals” discussed by the two cities all promising huge developments in the country’s second largest city. There are also a number of cities and towns in the country that have entered into twinning arrangements including Harare with Munich in Germany and Nottingham in England, Victoria Falls with the City of Oolong in China, Masvingo with Kernen, Germany and Mutare with the Portland in the United States of America.
With the advent of globalisation and the creation of the one village phenomenon more and more cities in the world are entering into twinning agreements that result in them exchanging in spheres of culture, economy and human capital.
Therefore, as we explore this trend of twinning arrangements, the major question is, what are the objectives and have they been met or they are just seals that do not have any tangible gains at the end of the day.
A quick arrangement comes to mind, this being the twinning arrangement between Scotland’s city of Aberdeen and Bulawayo. This is by far the oldest arrangement Bulawayo has entered into having signed the agreement as far back as 1986, to be exact on the 4th of June.
The arrangement will in June this year be 33 years old but what are the benefits? A quick inquiry into the twinning arrangement brings out a two-worded response: Operation Florian!
This is a massive fire and humanitarian charity organisation based in the United Kingdom, which has seen the city’s fire and rescue operations rise to become the best in the country. The arrangement has huge roots in the partnership between Bulawayo and Aberdeen.
The main objective of the partnership is centred on the assistance to revatilise the Bulawayo Emergency Services and training of its personnel. Spearheaded by the now retired Bulawayo chief fire officer, Mr Richard Peterson and a former staff member of the Bulawayo Emergency Services, now a senior lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, Mr Shephard Ndlovu, the project sought to establish one of the biggest fire and rescue charitable organisations in the world. To date BCC has benefitted vehicles, equipment and materials valued at over US$2,5 million.
“The Bulawayo Emergency Services between 2000 and 2011 experienced challenges due to the economic climate faced by the country. An aged fleet and equipment which constantly broke down en route to or at incidences seriously compromised public safety. The operational fire engines were also depleted and could not adequately respond to all emergency calls within greater Bulawayo. In addition, two out of four fire stations closed down.
“In 2011, the Bulawayo Emergency Service received its first consignment (under Operation Florian) of one water tender and 20 foot container with an assortment of firefighting and rescue equipment, protective equipment, clothing, mechanical workshop equipment, ambulance equipment and materials,” said BCC senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu in response to questions sent by Sunday News.
Mrs Mpofu revealed that since the project started the city had received 10 water tenders, two aerial appliances, one ambulance and seven 20 foot containers with an assortment of equipment and material. In addition, personnel have been trained in an approximate of 38 000 student hours.
A couple of weeks ago the team was once again in the city to donate more equipment although the majority of the equipment was stuck at ports of entry due to foreign currency shortages to clear it.
Commenting on the sidelines of the official hand over of the donated equipment, the city’s chamber secretary, Mrs Sikhangele Zhou commended the partnership that had given rise to Operation Florian revealing that they could now boast of being one of the best fire and rescue services in Southern Africa.
Adding to Mrs Zhou’s statement, the council’s spokesperson, Mrs Mpofu revealed that other towns and organisations that had benefitted in the country include; Bindura, Plumtree, Kwekwe Local Board, Hwange Colliery, Masvingo, Mutare, Beitbridge, Kadoma, Harare, Victoria Falls, Gwanda, Zvishavane, Kariba, Chegutu, Rusape Civil Aviation Authority Zimbabwe and Fire Prevention Zimbabwe.
“The donations to the sister Fire Services in Zimbabwe has improved their operational capacities as they have received Fire Engines, firefighting and rescue equipment, personnel protective equipment and clothing and training of the personnel by Operation Florian.
The council spokesperson revealed that since the establishment of this partnership the Emergency Services now has the capacity to respond to all distress calls within 10 minutes to the majority parts of the City except for Mahatshula, Woodlands, Waterford and Cowdray Park due to longer distances from the nearest station.
Head of delegation for Operation Florian, Mr Tony Burscough, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment in continued partnership with the city with the vision of further improving its emergency services to become one of the best in Africa.
He paid homage to the sacrifices made by Mr Peterson and Mr Ndlovu in coming up with the now vibrant facility.
“We as a charity have been here for the last nine years, this being phase eight. We are committed to Zimbabwe in helping it improve its emergency services. Hopefully, that will continue next year with the commitment of this partnership. We have potential plans for new ventures with Bulawayo. There is still many things we can do and learn from each other. That is important that we learn from each other,” said Mr Burscough.
Therefore as the world gradually becomes more interconnected, cities and towns are challenged to create relationships among each other that will give them an opportunity to learn from each other and exchange expertise that will see these authorities improving service delivery. This will see projects such as Operation Florian being developed, which will largely contribute to the development of the authorities.
Online Reporter