Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
BEITBRIDGE East legislator, Cde Albert Nguluvhe has urged council to prioritise connecting new suburbs to the water and sewer reticulation systems as well as work on access roads.
He said the scenario where residents are allowed to build and occupy unserviced land was unattainable.
Cde Nguluvhe said it was important for the town planners to refocus and ensure all suburbs are connected to water and sewer reticulation systems in line with the town’s transformation into a medium city.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Zanu-PF campaign roadshow on Tuesday, Cde Nguluvhe said council should also ensure the is adequate water for both domestic and industrial use.
Beitbridge town which has an estimated population of 70 000 people and more than 15 000 properties, has been growing rapidly in the last 10 years since it was upgraded into a town in 2006.
The border town which is witnessing massive infrastructural development, was recently granted municipality status.
The town requires an average of 18 megalitres of water daily for domestic and economic activities.
“As you can see service delivery is poor in the town and the opposition councillors who were recalled are largely to blame. In fact they have proved that they have nothing to offer,” said Cde Nguluvhe.
He said the town was expanding without the necessary services including roads, water and sewer reticulation infrastructure which is supposed to be put by council.
“Council should just stop this system of settling people on unserviced land as this will create chaos,” said Cde Nguluvhe.
He said Government had to intervene to address the perennial water supply problems which were as a result of a dispute between the council and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa).
The two entities have been involved in a battle to control the management of water and this has seen residents going for days without water.
The local authority owes Zinwa close to $300 million and the debt has been accruing since 2013.
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