Beitbridge gets $1,6m for housing projects

Thupeyo Muleya in Beitbridge
GOVERNMENT has released $1,6 million for the completion of housing units under the Beitbridge Redevelopment Programme to ease perennial accommodation shortage for its workers deployed to the border town, an official has said.

The BRP project, initiated in 2006, is being implemented by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

Project manager, Mr Edmore Tlou, said the projects include construction of 29 by F14 houses and 16 duplex flats, to accommodate 64 households.

He said they were rolling out the initiative in three phases and that progress had been stalled by resource shortages.

“We have phased the construction programme into three. We started with the F14 under phase one, which includes tiling, electrical connections, plumbing, road-works, and water connections, carpentry works and related fittings after receiving a total of $1,6 million from Treasury. The project started in July and our target is to complete all the outstanding works by the end of November,” said Mr Tlou.

“We are looking forward to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company and the Municipality of Beitbridge connecting the houses to electricity and water soon. Phase two includes the clearing of the area where there are outstanding works to complete civil works on the garden and duplex flats, which will have 16 units to accommodate 64 households.

“The last phase will begin in January next year where we expect to get funding from Government. We are working on a proposed budget for the flats for submission to central Government. It is our hope that we will get enough funds to complete the outstanding works.”

Mr Tlou said houses will be leased out relatively affordable standard market rates to accommodate the low income earners. In a recent interview, Beitbridge East constituency member of National Assembly, Albert Nguluvhe, called on Government to mobilise resources to complete outstanding projects under the BRP programme.

He said the completion of most housing issues will also help solve staff deployment issues at the border post where most Government departments are operating with few workers.

Some of the projects under the programme include road dualisation, upgrading water supply and sewer infrastructure in the town.