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Beitbridge Bureau
THE Government’s completion of a staff village comprising 220 houses for civil servants and other State employees assigned to the Beitbridge Border Post has boosted staff morale, resulting in improved border efficiency.
Staff from agencies such as the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), the Department of Immigration as well as Government ministries and security arms have taken occupancy of the houses.
Zimborders Consortium, in partnership with the Government, built the staff village some 7km east of the border town under a 17 and half year public private partnership.
In addition, 28 more F14 houses were allocated in the north of the town to civil servants.
“We commend this milestone move by our Government to address accommodation challenges for its workers. The completion of this project has accommodated those that were exposed to high rentals by landlords, usually paying in South African rands),” said the District Development Coordinator, Mrs Sikhangezile Mafu-Moyo.
“The new staff village has reduced congestion for those that were sharing the few available houses with their workmates.
“Morale of the workers has improved and this is translating to improved service delivery at the same time ensuring the full implementation of the various Government policies and obligations.”
The new staff village has 20 Type A houses for heads of departments with three bedrooms detached units and (Type B) 20 others with three bedrooms and are semi-detached.
The remaining (Type C) 180 units are high-rise flats with two bedrooms which are being shared by a total of 180 junior staff members.
The houses were built in the form of a gated complex with an independent sewer system comprising a bio-digester.
In addition, the housing complex has a clubhouse with a swimming pool, braai area, and numerous playing areas for children among other social amenities.
“On the development side, the staff village has improved the quality of infrastructure in our district. It also reduced the national housing waiting list and reduced pressure from civil servants inquiring about accommodation,” said Mrs Mafu-Moyo.
Regional immigration officer in-charge of Beitbridge, Mr Joshua Chibundu said the availability of more housing units had enabled the department to deploy adequate workers to clear traffic through the three border terminals for freight, buses and the one handling light cars and pedestrians.
“The housing project has brought joy to the officers who were previously sharing accommodation, depriving them of the much needed rest after a day’s hard work,” said Mr Chibundu.
“We recently received additional manpower and the houses brought us much relief because we were not going to accommodate them if the village had not been opened for occupation. We now have a full complement of officers deployed at Beitbridge”.
In January, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube commissioned a block of flats built for Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) workers deployed to Beitbridge.
The Tsakani (Shangani word for be happy) flat houses 36 customs officers and was built as part of the Government’s drive to ease accommodation woes.
Online Reporter