In 1991, long-time Portland resident, Clifford walker, founded the Portland-Mutare Sister City Association (PMSCA) with Mutare Mayor Enoch Msabaeka in an act of global solidarity against apartheid.
He was moved to action after receiving a letter forwarded to him by the US Embassy written by Veronicah Nyoni, the headmistress of a primary school in rural Mutare. She requested assistance from anyone in the US who might be able to supply badly needed text books to her students. Soon after, Clifford made his first visit to Mutare. With a visit to Portland by Zimbabwe’s ambassador and critical assistance from then Mayor Bud Clark, the partnership was launched.
Since then, citizens from Portland and Mutare have made trips back and forth, learning from and working with each other. Over the years, Portland’s efforts in Mutare have focused on teaching new techniques for agriculture, ongoing support for educational needs and orphan education, development of a health clinic and empowerment of people living with HIV/AIDS.