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Zimbabwe, Germany to revive twin-city ties
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-07 16:26

HARARE -- A three-men delegation from Harare City Council leaves for Germany this week to discuss reviving the twining arrangement between Harare Metropolitan and the City of Munich, The Herald reported on Tuesday.

The delegation will also seek to convince their German counterparts that they should not cancel the twining arrangement as was being proposed in some quarters arguing that twining would benefit ordinary residents of Harare.

Deputy Mayor Councillor Emmanuel Chiroto, who will lead the delegation, confirmed that Munich deputy mayor Hep Monatzeder had invited them to Germany over the twining arrangement that was suspended a few years ago when Harare City Council was run by a government-appointed commission.

When the twining arrangement came into effect in 1996, Harare received a refuse collection plant, equipment and vehicles, some of which are still operational.

Chiroto said he would impress on their German counterparts the need to assist the city in improving refuse collection, water and sewage treatment.

He said preliminary discussions with Munich officials had indicated that a city district was prepared to partner with a suburb in Harare. The partnership would see the district taking charge of clinics and schools with emphasis on the provision of critical resources such as drugs.