A Zimbabwean local government delegation has wrapped up its ten-day tour to three U.S. cities with high hopes of forming twinning partnerships with some of the cities in America.
President of the Zimbabwe Local Government Association Nimrod Chiminya told VOA the trip, which ended Wednesday, was very successful.
"We are going back home to discuss with other local authorities and come up with memorandum of agreements with some of the cities we visited," said Chiminya, whose delegation toured Washington DC, Baltimore, St Louis and Chicago.
Chiminya said while Zimbabwe’s economy is going through a rough patch, he is confident that some of the business strategies they learnt will be applicable in the country.
Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Harare Sharon Hudson-Dean says the study tour is part of her country's efforts to strengthen business ties and exchanges with Zimbabwe.
"We see this as a great opportunity to enhance local government in both countries by sharing experiences between Zimbabwe and the United States," Hudson-Dean said in a press release.
"The participants had a first-hand experience of how our city governments work to improve their local economies by developing and implementing growth strategies to create jobs and to improve social services."
The tour was funded by the U.S. Department of Education and Cultural Exchanges in partnership with the Zimbabwe U.S. Alumni Association through the Hubert Humphrey Program alumni Thandiwe Mlobane.
Interview With Nimrod Chiminya