Redcliff dark nights over

Timoth Makohliso Midlands Reporter
REDCLIFF Town has completed repairing and reinstalling its street lights in a bid to end the town’s “dark city” status which has witnessed an increase in muggings at night.The town’s power cables and lights were vandalised in 2005.

Redcliff Mayor, Councillor Fred Kapuya said the town is expected to hold a lighting ceremony tomorrow.

“I am pleased to announce to Redcliff residents that dark nights are over. We have completed the repairing and reinstallation of street lights that have not been working for years. The completion of the project is a milestone achievement for the council considering the fact that the town has been in darkness for nine years,” said Clr Kapuya.

Residents once clashed with previous councils over the matter of non-functional lights in their town. The current council introduced a special levy of $60 as a way of raising the $50,000 needed for the street light project.

At one time the levy caused friction between council and residents as they protested against it.

Clr Kapuya expressed gratitude to residents for their continued support of council operations.

“I would like to thank all Redcliff residents for their continued support even though some doubted our credibility as a council when we asked them to pay the $60 for the project,” he said.

Clr Kapuya said for the past nine years, Redcliff Town had been reduced to a town of robberies and muggings as criminals took advantage of the darkness.

“In the past years our town recorded an increase in cases of robbery and other types of crime. I am glad that all that is going to be a thing of the past,” he said.