By Rex Mphisa
AN engineer with the Municipality of Beitbridge has been send on forced leave for a month pending investigations of an allegation of theft of pipes later used on a “private job” on the local authority’s sewer line leading from the Beitbridge Border Post.
The engineer Timothy Kadyamusuma, many residents and stakeholders believe is “responsive to duty” was accused of several other issues including illegal water and sewer connections at large institutions.
Most allegations, which appear an inside job from staff at his workplace, appear unfounded criminally, seemingly rooted in hate, jealousy or professional insecurity of those accusing him, according to investigations by this publication.
Town clerk Loud Ramakgapola confirmed the suspension.
“Well I have asked him to “step aside” for a month to facilitate finalising of the issues,” Ramakgapola said in a brief response to questions.
Kadyamusuma who is an expert in water and reportedly a “hands on person” Beitbridge has not had for years, is accused of stealing pipes to do a private line belonging “to the Beitbridge Border Post”.
It appears an initial report to the police may have yielded no results after it was established the issue may not have any criminality. Kadyamusuma was never arrested after a report was made.
According to the allegations copied on April 9, 2026 to this publication by a “whistleblower” with MoB emblem as his profile picture on a South African whatsapp mobile phone number, Kadyamusuma “stole” the pipes from a site and took them to his employer’s workshop.
He then “repurposed” them for a private job for the Government’s Beitbridge Border Post currently under management from Zimborders under a Build-Operate-Transfer project between Government ant the private investor, according to the allegations.
Investigations and a site visit to the place where the pipes were installed showed the same had been put on a municipal sewer line crossing WaMlala River from the border post and not a private line.
Officials from Zimborders refused to comment on allegations coming from a “ghost account” saying anyone who has a genuine complaint comes open.
“Suffice to say the line where that “borrowed material” was used is not in the border post but MoB area and has since been returned as per arrangement with paper trail, we will not respond to allegations from ghost accounts. Constructive people come in the open,” said an official.
It is understood the damaged part repaired had been neglected by MoB and blocked effluent from the $300 million facility to flow to the newly installed oxidised sewer plants donated to MoB by Zimborders.
The pipeline also affected flow through Vice President Kembo Mohadi’s Malindi Transit Shed after piping was damaged by the WaMlala River and were silted.
This was exposed when Zimborders hired a jetting machine hoping to clear the line from the border only for that discovery.
The line where pipes were used is outside the border premises.
Two other allegations against him by the whistleblower who appears having a lot of plumbing and engineering jargon as well as information inside council, and presents his documents quickly employing AI, are weakened by existing resolutions by council.
Surprisingly, the whistleblower accuses Kadyamusuma of “not rewarding” council workers financially but giving them off days.
For instance, he questioned the installation and extension of water and sewed facilities at a sports complex outside town and a lodge in town respectively alleging Kadyamusuma had been paid to do the private job which is false.
“We passed resolutions for those two projects, they are all above board,” said Councillor Takavingei Mahachi.
According to some junior MoB workers, Kadyamusuma was never going to be popular at Beitbridge with his positive attitude towards work.
“He responds to faults and is always on the ground. These current state where water is almost frequently available is his work and that has not gone down well with some of his mates.He is being fought from within by armchair workers,” said one worker.
Kadyamusuma who uses a pool car driven by everyone was said to be accused of “wasting” fuel of a car everyone drives during working hours.
Some Beitbridge residents said things will deteriorate during his suspension because there was no culture of work at Beitbridge.
“We have been seeing him everywhere and his absence will be felt,” said one Beitbridge resident.