Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
LOCAL Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has issued a stern warning to Beitbridge Municipality councillors, accusing them of greed, sabotage and turning Zimbabwe’s busiest border town into “a circus”.
During his visit over the weekend, Minister Garwe criticised the council for being consumed by petty personality clashes, illegal land transactions, and self-serving schemes at the expense of essential service delivery.
“Beitbridge town is a strategic location for both Zimbabwe and the SADC region. The time for childish antics and politicking is over.
“Let us work together to deliver people-centred services. We must cure the disease of maladministration here,” he said.
Beitbridge, which serves as the country’s main gateway to South Africa, handles thousands of travellers and commercial cargo worth billions annually.
However, its strategic importance has been undermined by service delivery failures, including persistent water shortages, sewer bursts, uncollected refuse and deteriorating road infrastructure. The minister said the Government would not tolerate councillors neglecting their duties in favour of clandestine deals.
“It is disheartening to note that many of you have resorted to fighting each other over illegal self-enrichment schemes. This nonsensical behaviour. Sabotaging one another and derailing service delivery over petty disputes must end immediately,” he said.
Tensions within council have escalated following a recent vote of no confidence in Mayor Peter Pirato Mafuta, with councillors accusing him of gross incompetence and stalling development projects. Minister Garwe, however, dismissed the move as driven by greed rather than a genuine desire to improve services.
“Beitbridge is being run in a despicable manner. There is zero service delivery, illegal stand allocations, land cartels, unprocedural removal of the mayor and a failure to provide water and manage sewer systems. It is deeply troubling,” he said.
The minister also criticised the local authority for accepting a refurbished grader instead of a new one, and for proceeding with a stadium project in a waterway using a contractor with a poor track record.
Minister Garwe pledged to visit the border town monthly to “whip them into line” and gave councillors a three-month deadline to rectify the situation.
