In 1990, the Municipality of Zimbabwe’s oldest city - Masvingo entered into a relationship with Kernen city in the Federal Republic of Germany. Like in any marriage set-up, though without a marriage officer and the bible, the two cities entered in to a covenant.
They agreed to help each other in thunder, lighting or in rain.
In fact, Masvingo and Kernen officially became twin cities in 1990. This was a sign of a new relationship between the two cities from different continents. They however, agreed to make sure that they support each other whenever need arises. They also agreed to engage into a number of exchange or cultural programmes if resources and time permits.
However, because of its geographical positioning, being a European city, Kernen automatically became financially better positioned than Masvingo, making the relationship one way. In the long run, Masvingo ended up depending on Kernen rather than having a 50-50 relationship.
That did not sway Kernen or force the people in Germany to think otherwise, they continued to honour their oath. From 1990 up to today, Kernen has done a number of projects for Masvingo.
The people of Kernen have helped in the construction of Alpha Cottages, Holy Cross at Bondolfi, Zimcare Trust, donated funds to Copota, construction of Runyararo Clinic, donating money for developmental projects among others.
As if to say that was not enough, there are over 30 orphans in Masvingo whose social welfare is currently taken care of by individuals in Germany. Pioneers of the association in Kernen such as Dieter Kaiser have influenced a number of people across Germany to help Masvingo orphans.
“I helped several orphans in Masvingo and I currently sponsor several orphans there (Masvingo). Heiko and Elke Mewes, a couple in Berlin approached us before going to Masvingo where they are helping two orphans at Bondolfi.
“We are helping Masvingo and we still have the zeal to continue helping them,” said Kaiser.
In these twenty years, a lot of things between Zimbabwe and Europe happened. The relationship between Zimbabwe and western countries including Germany were spoiled by bad blood which developed between the two, mainly due to different political ideologies especially under President Mugabe’s leadership in Zimbabwe.
Though President Mugabe, Minister Stan Mudenge and several top government officials went to Kernen at some point in the 1990s, the relationship between Zimbabwe and Europe continued to get sour. However, the people in Kernen chose to be blind and they continued to give Masvingo necessary support.
When Masvingo was hard hit by economic crises and cholera epidemic in 2008, the people of Kernen organised themselves and wrote a letter to Masvingo offering to help.
‘We want to support you’
“We know from there that the people in our partner city have hard times to go through, politically and economically. We have heard about the drought in the country and the bad harvest of crops as maize and others.
We all feel very concerned with the starvation in your area. Therefore the partnership association has organized a donation campaign among our population and have found many citizens of Kernen feeling compassion with the citizens of Masvingo.
Since December 2007 we have financed repeated food supplies for the orphanage alpha cottages and for Bondolfi primary school up to a total of 45.000 €uro. In 2009 we will continue with this action.
We also heard about your problems with the cholera epidemic. That is why we decided to finance in January the chemicals for water treatment of the city to be supplied from RSA,” reads part of the letter written to Masvingo by the people of Kernen in 2008.
Celebrating sweetness of unity
It’s a great day in Germany Friday October 1 2010, as both cities are celebrating 20th anniversary of the relationship. Masvingo Mayor Alderman Femias Chakabuda, Deputy Mayor Selina Maridza and Housing Director Levison Nzvura are in Kernen representing the people of Masvingo.
The Mayor of Kernen Stefan Altenberger said the people in his city are still committed to assist Masvingo. He said they still honour the oath which was made two decades ago.
“Yes we still honour the oath, we wish to work with our friends in Masvingo giving them assistance wherever they want us to help them,” Altenberger said.
Kernen- Masvingo Association chairman Christian Fleischer said he is wishing to see the relationship growing to a stage where both cities will be financially and economically equal.
“We promise to support Masvingo but my dream is to see both cities attaining equal financial positions. We are financially stable and we wish Masvingo to be the same,” Fleischer said.
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