Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
THE construction of the new Central Business District between the Engen Service Station and Tshitaudze Business Centre in Beitbridge is set to transform the face of the border town, which is already being modernised into a city.
The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South, Albert Nguluvhe, yesterday officially broke ground for the new project along Bulawayo Road.
The servicing works, awarded to private contractor Tiger Eye, are expected to run for between six and nine months and are projected to create 80 jobs for residents during the construction phase.
Commercial development on the serviced stands is scheduled to begin in early 2027.
The new CBD extension comprises 33 stands designated for various uses, including a medical centre, three shopping complexes, a recreation centre, several shops and ample parking space.
Addressing stakeholders, Minister Nguluvhe said infrastructure development was critical in improving business efficiency and access to services within communities.
He said Tiger Eye would service the area with tarred roads, sewer lines, water reticulation systems and proper drainage before any stands are allocated.
“This is a privilege for me to witness the official commencement of the CBD extension servicing meant to modernise our town and make it truly the face of Zimbabwe.
“True development should be people-centred and every kilometre of a new road, sewer system laid, drainage constructed and water infrastructure done should be measured in lives that have been transformed and jobs created.
“Once proper roads are in place, drainage is done, sewer is laid and water infrastructure is in place, the life of an ordinary person should improve and this is the minimum we expect of our municipality.”
Minister Nguluvhe said the project aligns with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which seeks to achieve an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
He said servicing the CBD extension would provide the foundation for the development of modern infrastructure in line with the objectives of NDS2.
The minister added that the initiative was expected to deliver infrastructure that modernises the Beitbridge community and improves prospects for attaining middle-class status while moving the town closer to city status.
“The new extension is strategically located to become the future centre of business for the town. The existing old CBD is constrained in terms of expansion. Beitbridge town is experiencing rapid growth and this growth brings immense pressure to modernise and expand our built environment.
“The servicing of this layout, therefore, comes at the right time,” he said.
Minister Nguluvhe said the municipality envisages modern infrastructure featuring high-rise buildings in the new CBD extension, with a minimum target of four storeys.
“If realised, it would be the first cluster of multi-storey buildings in Beitbridge, dramatically altering the town’s skyline,” he said.
Minister Nguluvhe urged Beitbridge Municipality and the contractor to work closely together to ensure the project is completed within the stipulated timeframe.
“Beitbridge town must learn from this project that stands must be fully serviced with water, roads, sewer and drainage before they are allocated. This should be the example in all the layouts we have,” he said.
Project manager Engineer Michael Munodawafa said civil works were already underway and the company expected to complete the project within the nine-month timeframe.
He said the company also intended to employ more women as part of efforts to address gender disparities in the workplace.
Engineer Munodawafa added that local people employed during the project would benefit from the company’s skills transfer initiative.
“Upon completion of this project, we expect to see more residents in this town, especially women, being able to use the skills related to construction work they will learn here to make a living. We moved on site on May 25 and we expect to be done by the end of February next year, and then the stand owners should be able to start developing them,” said Engineer Munodawafa.
