adminThupeyo Muleya,
Beitbridge Bureau
Service delivery has gradually been improving in Beitbridge where the Government continues to fund the full implementation of capital projects under the Devolution initiative.
Through devolution, the local authority has in the last five years managed to build a new primary school, procure a refuse compactor truck, two service vehicles, earth moving equipment and upgraded its ICT facilities.
They also built five two-roomed houses to address the colonial problem of crowding in the Dulivhadzimu suburbs. The council is targeting to build more houses.
Beitbridge Town Clerk, Mr Loud Ramakgapola told stakeholders at a recent Mid-term (2024) budget review meeting that they had completed the construction of Makhado primary school in the Khwalu 2 suburb, west of the border town.
“We have been able to implement a number of capital projects through the Government’s injection of funds under the Devolution concept.
” We expect the new primary school (Makhado) in Khwalu 2 suburb to open for classes in January 2025. We have built two classroom blocks, ablution facilities and we intend to add more key facilities before the end of this financial year.
“North of the town where we have new suburbs we have been able to start the construction of a new clinic next to White Lodge. The main structure is now at window level and our hope is to complete the project as soon as more funds become available,” said Mr Ramakgapola.
He said they were also planning to address issues of public lighting in the western suburbs to as a development thrust and reduce the crime rates like mugging and robbery.
Mr Ramakgapola said they had since set plans to build a standard engineered landfill in the west of the town.
He added that with the availability of more resources, the local authority is targeting to maintain and rehabilitate the town’s main roads linking the ZRP Main police station and the Bulawayo Highway, the road linking the town and the new Government Staff Village and service roads in Impala Extension Suburb.
“As a local authority we intend to use more funds to build more schools to accommodate the town’s ever-growing population and to upgrade the water and sewer reticulation facilities,” Mr Ramakgapola added.
The Herald is reliably informed that the town has a shortage of four primary and two secondary schools.
Ideally the council needs to have a primary school for every 5000 people and one secondary school with three feeder primary schools.
The town has an estimated population of 100 000 with three secondary and six official primary schools.
Besides infrastructure development, the Devolution Funds were also used to purchase earth moving equipment critical in servicing residential stands and roads maintenance and construction.
Some of the equipment is awaiting delivery.
“We are looking at servicing 235 more low density residential stands next to the 220 Government’s Staff village and to also promote investment into modern infrastructure in the new CBD area.
“As a municipality we have noted the concerns from members of the community over the state of the Makakavhule cemetery. So, we are going to build a caretaker’s house in that area.
“In the long run, we should be having a square that will help improve the ambiance of our town,” said Mr Ramakgapola.
Online Reporter