Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya , Beitbridge Bureau
FOR many years, Beitbridge town faced severe challenges in waste management.
Burst sewers had become a common feature. At one time, the situation got so dire that the local authority was taken to court by the Environmental Management Agency for failing to manage its sewer system.
However, all this is now history, as the sewer system in Beitbridge has undergone a massive upgrade. This followed the successful construction of a new sewer oxidation dam by Government through a private-public partnership with Zimborders Consortium.
This deal is one of the “out-of-port” initiatives agreed on by Government and the consortium to modernise the border town.
In all, the sewer oxidation dam, a 11,4-megalitre water reservoir, an animal plant and quarantine centre, 220 housing units for civil servants and a fire station form the out-of-port projects to modernise the town, in tandem with the recent US$300 million facelift of Southern Africa’s busiest land border.
Beitbridge town clerk Mr Loud Ramakgapola said: “The addition of a new and modern dam has come in handy to ease the pressure on our sewer management. As you know, Beitbridge has a large population that is complemented by the large transit of people moving into and out of the country.
“In the future, we may still need to expand our sewer ponds or to start a new site completely given the ever-rising population of the town and the fast-paced development happening all over the town.”
The town has an estimated population of over 70 000 people and plays host to another 15 000 in transit through the border daily.
A local environmentalist, Mr Zibusiso Ndlovu, said the sewer oxidation dam would go a long way in addressing perennial service delivery challenges in the town.
“The new oxidation plant will increase the sewer reticulation capacity of the town. The town is fast-growing and before this project, we experienced too many sewer bursts,” he said.
“The previous facility could not carry the demand. This new facility means reduced sewer bursts and that more properties could be connected on the sewer reticulation network. We are basically creating a safer environment.”
Mr Ndlovu said the onus now lies on the municipality to upgrade its pipes to avoid continuous blockages and spillages.
He also urged residents to avoid putting foreign objects into the sewer system.
Oxidation dams are natural methods of waste treatment and are considered environmentally friendly. —@tupeyo
Bongani Ndlovu