REDDITCH has rolled out the welcome mat to a quartet of visitors from its twin town in Tanzania, Mtwara.
School manager Sheikh Nurdin Mangochi, Montessori teaching school manager Sister Monica, Baptist Church Pastor Sylvester Mlaponi, and retired town planner Bright Msalya are here on a visit arranged by Redditch One World Link and the Friends of Mtwara twinning association.
And the four guests have been busy immersing themselves in life both in Redditch and further afield.
On their arrival they spent a day in London where they visited the House of Commons and met with local MP Rachel Maclean before dropping in on the Tanzanian High Commissioner, Dr Asha-Rose Migiro.
They’ve also climbed the Worcestershire Beacon near Malvern, taken a boat trip on the River Severn and visited Birmingham and Coventry where they met with fellow Tanzanians.
However Jackie Morgan of Redditch One World Link said the bulk of their time is being spent in Redditch and she paid tribute to the schools which have welcomed them, including Birchensale Middle School, Walkwood Middle School, Trinity High School and Colmore Row Primary School in Birmingham, with a trip to Hollyoaks School in Redditch in the pipeline.
“They have been involved with both the local churches and schools and we’ve been showing them all there is to see in Redditch,” said Jackie.
“We have of course also visited Forge Mill Needle Museum and also Entaco in Washford so they could see how the needles that made Redditch famous are made today.”
The highlight of the trip will be a tree planting at the Abbey Stadium this coming Sunday, June 24, when they will gather to plant a walnut tree as a UK link to the cashew nut trees which grow widely in Mtwara.
Redditch Borough Council has been twinned with Mtwara-Mikindani Municipal Council since 1985.
