A UNITED Kingdom (UK) delegation visited Bulawayo on Tuesday with wide-ranging proposals for partnership between the city and its UK counterparts in sectors including business, investment, tourism, technology, higher education and climate research.
Alice Mpofu-Coles, the mayor of Reading in the UK, who led the delegation, expressed her city’s keen interest in pursuing mutually-beneficial opportunities with Bulawayo during her one-year term.
She identified key UK metropolitan areas such as Manchester, Edinburgh and Cambridge as strategic entry points for tourism and investment, offering to leverage on her office to promote Bulawayo internationally.
Among specific proposals was collaboration with business associations in Reading, which hosts a strong consortium of technology firms often referred to as the “Silicon Valley of the UK”.
She highlighted Reading’s excellent transport links and proactive public-private partnerships as models worth exploring.
Mpofu-Coles also pointed to potential job creation through call-centre investments, noting that Zimbabwe’s educated, fluent youth could position the country as a competitive alternative to traditional hubs like India.
On climate and water research, she proposed alliances with UK universities, referencing Reading’s pioneering climate-stripes data displayed at the United Nations.
She urged stronger council-university co-operation to tackle civic climate challenges.
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She invited her Bulawayo counterpart to propose dates for a UK visit, during which she will facilitate meetings with business leaders.
“My interest goes beyond ceremonial celebration and my council colleague wants to exploit these relationships as best we can,” Mpofu-Coles said.
“I encouraged Bulawayo to connect with executives who specialise in linking cities to markets.”
Mpofu-Coles further highlighted Reading’s successful town-twinning model as a way to strengthen cultural, academic and diaspora engagement, a framework she suggested Bulawayo could adopt.
“Universities and councils must co-operate because climate challenges require civic action and that Bulawayo explores collaboration on water solutions is its number-one priority,” she said.
The talks also focused on laying a foundation for long-term co-operation through business exchanges and joint research initiatives.
