2008 Annual Report

Wuerzburg, 15.1.2009

Dear members and benefactors!

Again we would like to thank you for your strong support and give you a review as well.

Some remarks on the contacts between the two sister cities:
Two expert civil servants from Mwanza stayed at Wuerzburg for a three weeks’ advanced training. The chief of the municipal car park, Mr. Thobias Bujiku and deputy commander of the fire brigade, Mr. Mussa Kaboni. Both visitors were accommodated by the professional fire brigade and had, therefore, immediate contact to all three shifts of the Wuerzburg fire fighters. They learned how to handle the garbage collection truck as well as the breathing apparatuses that were shipped to Tanzania in May this year, together with an ambulance vehicle. We accompanied this exercise with our advice.

During summer we looked after the medical students from Bugando Medical Centre who made an internship with Wuerzburg Hospitals.

Our old friend, Mr. Joseph Mlinzi, Mwanza press- and town-twinning officer, came to Wuerzburg for one week’s visit in November, being in Europe on the occasion of establishing a  three-party-twinship with Bray / Wicklow County / Ireland.

This year, too, several trainees were sent to Mwanza.

Since sommer this year preparations for a Tanzania visit of facilitators, are running. Various contacts will be made and intensified.

Our information stand at the Africa Festival this time was integrated into the tent of the Wuerzburg One-World-Forum. At this occasion we got acqainted with the family of an African comedian at the Wuerzburg Theatre, Issaka Zoungrana.

The summer concert of the Municipal Music School in July was dedicated to our activities. The African focus, an information stand, and the proceeds of € 400,00 aimed at the Mwanza people.

A special highlight was the benefit concert on 26.10 of the Rock-Pop-Gospel-Choir VOICES in the fully occupied Wuerzburg Theatre. Together with the proceeds of € 7400,00 it presented a good opportunity of image promotion for the city sistership. The musician and comedian Benjamin Mgonzwa from the museum village Bujora near Mwanza performed solo and together with the choir.

In June and October Mr. Benjamin Mgonzwa held drumming workshops in schools and kindergardens.

The transport of a garbage collection lorry and an ambulance vehicle to Mwanza has successfully been completed. The shipment from Bremerhaven to Mwanza took a long time from May 1st to mid-July. The transport cost was completely covered by GTZ.

In November the M.W.A.N.Z.A. e.V. presented itself at the municipal adult education centre. In a Christmas concert in St. Mary’s Church some members presented Kiswahili Christmas songs, supported by Uwe Feulner and other friends of Ruvuma.

Our financial assistance to Mwanza emphasised the education sector.
We committed to donating  € 3000,00 annually for a four years’ period in benefit of MäFöG –Girls’ advancement. The better part of these funds has been forwarded already to  HURUMA, for girls and women with and without a handicap.

With Upendo Daima of Marga van Barschot we undertook the support of all street boys who will attend a secondary school.
 
More financial commitments will be reported by our treasurer at the next members meeting. We convey our thanks to all donors in the name of the Mwanza people. Please visit our homepage for more details: www.mwanza.de

We wish you a good year 2009.
Michael Stolz    Walter Oschmann
  chairman             treasurer