Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
GOVERNMENT has released $20 million in devolution funds to Beitbridge municipality as part of its thrust to capacitate local authorities to meet their service delivery obligations.
Beitbridge Town Clerk Mr Loud Ramakgapola yesterday said the money will be used to buy a grader and build a classroom block at a new primary school to be located in Kwalu 2 suburb.
“This is a timely intervention. We intend to use the money to construct a new classroom block in Kwalu suburb and to also buy a grader.
You will note that having our own earth moving equipment is critical in terms of implementing infrastructure development projects like constructing roads,” said Mr Ramakgapola.
Beitbridge Municipality has received a total of $31, 3 million in devolution funds in the last three years.
Mr Ramakgapola said they bought a refuse compactor truck for $2, 9 million, a backhoe loader (TLB) for $1, 1 million, and a water and sanitation vehicle for $2, 2 million.
In addition, he said they made more payments for a sewer jetting machine that cost $19 million.
“A total of $700 000 was used to upgrade Information Communication and Technology facilities and buying other office equipment,” he said.
Mr Ramakgapola said they had also spent some of the devolution funds in boosting the council’s capacity to deal with solid waste management and addressing water and sanitation-related service delivery issues.
Prior to the release of the money by Government, the local authority had been struggling to meet its obligations. -@Tupeyo
Online Reporter