A Sister City agreement between Milwaukee and the District of Tarime, Tanzania was signed during a special ceremony at City Hall on November 7.
Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II, Common Council Chair of the Sister Cities Committee, said the international agreement with Tarime, Tanzania had been in the works for months, and was supported by mutually strong enthusiasm and interest.
“The partnership between our two cities is both exciting and encouraging. I’m confident that it will prove equally valuable for the citizens of Milwaukee and the citizens of Tarime,” said Alderman Stamper.
The agreement offered benefits for both cities with investments for business, and opportunities for diplomacy and cultural exchange. Moses Matiko Misiwa, Mayor of the Tarime District, welcomed the partnership, especially for medical and technology cooperations.
“We share some historical things in common, between Milwaukee and Tanzania. The environment looks very much the same. But we don’t have snow,” said Mayor Misiwa. “We love the citizens of Milwaukee, and we invite them to come visit us.”
As part of the Tanzanian delegation’s visit to Milwaukee, the officials also visited various companies, organizations, and institutions for education, art, economic, technical, and municipal exchanges.
“I would also like to thank the work of the Sister Cities Committee, the Mosorec International Foundation team from Tanzania and the U.S., and all others who have helped form this relationship,” Alderman Stamper said.
Christine R. Thompson Mosore, Founder and President of Mosorec International Foundation in the U.S. and Tanzania, said she was excited to serve in the organization that connected both cities, especially in the areas of agricultural development and tourism.
“The vision I had for connecting these two cities is because when I left home, I went to school in Whitewater. And before I start working, I came to Milwaukee,” said Mosore. “This is where my life started, in Milwaukee. When I had problems, who is there to support me? Tanzania is very far. It was members of the Milwaukee community who supported me.”
She believed this partnership will help strengthen global peace, and she looks forward to a successful relationship built on cultural understanding, cooperative, and mutually beneficial programs.
“I know that a signed paper is not enough, we need respect and understanding, through commitments and friendships,” said Mosore. “From partnerships we will nurture this relationship, with Milwaukee and Tarime on the global stage, because we are a global community. I really believe that the Sister City program helps to do provide a lot of international opportunities.”
Milwaukee is officially affiliated with Sister Cities International, a program with more than 50 years of promoting people-to-people diplomacy. As a result, Milwaukee’s city-to-city relationships, including former friendship cities and unofficial sister cities, are now moving forward. Medan, Indonesia, Galway, Ireland, uMhlathuze, South Africa, Zadar, Croatia and Bomet County, Kenya are Milwaukee’s current Sister Cities.
The event also produced one small but historical footnote. It was the first time Mayor Tom Barrett was sick during an official duty. As a result, he signed a letter to Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee’s City Clerk, which temporarily appointed Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Milwaukee Common Council President, with the authority to sign the Sister City agreement.
© Photo
Lee Matz
