Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
CHAOS reigned supreme in Beitbridge following a decision by local councillors to suspend their full council meetings in protest over what they allege to be slow implementation of major capital projects by the local authority management.
Some of major projects cited by councillors include the proposed construction of a new bus terminus in Dulivhadzimu suburb, the upgrading of water and sewer facilities in Tshidixwa suburb, the procurement of earth-moving equipment and the installation of solar streets lights in the town centre.
In 2017, Beitbridge Municipality applied to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works for borrowing powers to modernise Dulivhadzimu Bus terminus at a cost of US$300 000.
The councillors are arguing that there is no point in discussing new projects when outstanding ones, some dating back to 2018, have not yet been fully implemented.
To register their concern, the councillors on Monday abruptly adjourned the meeting in protest over alleged delays in the implementation of key projects in the border town.
Speaking during the meeting, Ward 4 councillor Morgan Ncube said it made no sense for them to continue with their “futile” meetings as they yielded no positive results.
“It is sad that we are taken for a ride. We have been sitting here since 2018 and coming up with resolutions yet nothing has moved, especially when it comes to the construction of a new bus terminus and the procurement of a grader,” he said.
“As the councillors, we are expected to push for development and as it stands, we have people in council offices who are not willing to work. As councillors, we agreed that we will boycott these meetings until some of these resolutions we made years back are implemented.”
The chairperson of the works committee, Cllr Taka Mahachi said failure to implement council resolutions is a cause for concern.
He accused council management of taking a lackadaisical approach in terms of meeting the expectations of rate payers.
“We represent the residents who are the rate payers and therefore this lack of enthusiasm and determination by people employed to serve people is worrying. We can’t continue getting excuses when it comes to service delivery, which at the end of the day costs us as councillors,” he said.
“It is our view that we cannot keep introducing new projects when outstanding ones are yet to be fully implemented.”
Clr Granger Nyoni, who chairs the finance and staffing committee, said despite budget provisions for most capital projects, nothing has been done to implement them.
Town Clerk, Mr Loud Ramakgapola said the construction of the bus terminus is set to start soon following their recent engagements with the contractor, who is already on the ground.
“We have made it clear to the contractor that the bus terminus is a critical project and hence work must begin without any further delay. On issues relating to the grader and mega/giga jet, we were having challenges with the suppliers and we are now engaging them so that the equipment is delivered, “he said.
Mr Ramakgapola said council is deploying a team to urgently address some of the challenges faced by residents in terms of water and sanitation.
He said on the issue of public lighting, some of the companies which had expressed interest, are coming up with unrealistic budgets.
“One of the bidders demanded US$40 000 to fix solar public lights in the town centre, which is unrealistic. We could not engage one of the contractors who wanted around US$1 000 to install just a single solar light,” said Mr Ramakgapola. – @tupeyo
Online Reporter