The mayor of Stevenage’s Zimbabwean twin town, Kadoma, took time out of his first ever visit to the UK to speak to the Comet today. His worship the mayor Munchineripi Chinyanganya is visiting Stevenage to build on the Stevenage-Kadoma Link Association, a twinning arrangement between the two towns that has lasted 30 years.
He is visiting political leaders, business people and church heads during the fortnight and this morning dropped in to Barnwell Middle School to meet staff and pupils.
He told the Comet there is much the two towns can share and learn from one another:
“The people to people relationship between the towns remains very strong.
“Years ago Stevenage gave us a fire tender and it’s still in use in Kadoma today,” he said.
“They’ve also given us thousands of books for our library and these books are used in the classrooms every day.
“The Link also raises funds for our schools which helps disadvantaged children and has raised funds which have enabled many children to go to school.
“People from Stevenage have provided clothes for our old people’s homes and lots of moral support and mission work.”
He added: “The education system in the UK is amazing. At home we are really struggling, for example there are often 60 children in each class.
“The infrastructure here is very good. This for example is a secondary school but it has the same level of facilities as one of our universities.”
He praised the Link’s work to support a programme to build an orphanage in Kadoma which is now underway..
Mr Chinyanganda said there is also a lot that Kadoma can offer Stevenage in terms of cultural exchange.
He added: “The welcome in Stevenage has been just out of this world. Stevenage people have been lovely and I feel really at home.”
The Link has also helped support a programme to build an orphanage in Kadoma which is now being built.
On a less positive note, the 32-year-old says the British government’s increasingly tight visa controls have hampered the link in recent years: Two of his colleagues were unable to accompany him on this trip because they couldn’t get Visas.
“They just need to learn to trust us”, he said.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here