Beitbridge seeks $300k to upgrade terminus

Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
BEITBRIDGE Town Council (BTC) has applied to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing seeking approval to borrow up to $300 000 towards constructing a modern bus terminus in Dulivhadzimu.

Town secretary Mr Loud Ramakgapola said the existing bus terminus needed urgent attention and council had set aside $50 000 this year for the project, which was not enough.

“We are getting a lot of revenue from buses at the current bus terminus hence the need to upgrade it. The current bus terminus is in a bad state, with limited facilities and there is a lot of fine dust, which causes pollution on a daily basis,” he said.

“Our financial resources are limited, hence we have resolved to apply for borrowing powers from our parent ministry. One average we are realising close to $12 000 per month from the bus terminus”.

Mr Ramakgapola said the facility houses between 30 and 40 buses per day and that the local authority was forced to move the bus terminus from the Wamlala Stream on a higher place to avert water logging, which had become a perennial problem.

He said the $300 000 fund would be used for fencing, paving and construction of requites facilities associated with a modern bus terminus.

“The upgrading of the bus terminus is one of the key aspects of transformation of Beitbridge town as we develop into a medium city. You will note that we are the preface of the country to those coming into the country from South Africa hence we must spruce up our image,” said Mr Ramakgapola.

The council is also working on installing solar street lights on a road from the central business district leading to the border post and the project has already been tendered.

“The process is now at adjudication stage and we expect work to be carried out between August and September. It is important that we ensure there is enough lighting on that road. We are also looking at increasing lighting in crime hotspots areas of the town,” he said.