Municipal Reporter
EXPLOSIVE allegations of extortion, blatant insubordination, and deliberate sabotage have rocked the Municipality of Beitbridge (MoB), with a prominent local businessman petitioning the Government to investigate Town Engineer Douglas Siphuma for holding the border town’s development to ransom.
In a scathing four-page dossier seen by Ziyah News Network, Blue Villa Lodge proprietor Luckson Dzobo accuses Siphuma of frustrating a council-approved sewer reticulation project in the unserviced Impala Extension suburb after Dzobo refused to pay a bribe.
In contrast, Siphuma is said to have embarked on a sewer line south side but near the former Rainbow Hotel where he has embarked on building an unapproved sewer line near the Rainbow Hotel complex.
The fallout has left gaping, hazardous trenches in the low-density suburb, creating a death trap for motorists and pedestrians while threatening a public health crisis.
According to Dzobo’s letter—titled “Abuse of Office by Beitbridge Town Engineer” and copied to the Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South, Albert Nguluvhe—the saga began when he offered to fund a 170-metre sewer line to service his upmarket lodge and neighbouring properties.
Dzobo states he spent nearly US$4,000 on professional designs and hosted engineers from Harare to map the project at Siphuma’s request.
Siphuma initially seconded two junior council officials, surveyor P. Masuku and Water and Sanitation Engineer Kadyamusuma, to oversee the works.
However, Siphuma abruptly halted the project right after trenching was completed.
“The matter was referred to a full council meeting, and the resolution was that we must proceed with the works,” Dzobo wrote. Under the council-approved agreement, Dzobo was granted a two-year service charge exemption to offset his private expenditure, while the municipality would connect surrounding properties.
Despite the full council’s green light, Siphuma allegedly defied the resolution and ordered workers off the site after only 40 metres of piping had been laid.
Dzobo alleges the blockade stems from his refusal to grease the Town Engineer’s palms.
“When I went first to the Town Engineer’s office, he requested for money to pay him if I am going to proceed with the project, which I literally refused,” Dzobo charged.
“I declined the request as it is corruption, and I could not see the need for me to pay him whatever amount as the municipality was also going to benefit from the project.”
When Dzobo returned to plead with Siphuma over overflowing septic tanks affecting neighbours—including a multi-million-dollar Nyaradzo Funeral Parlour facility—he was allegedly met with hostility. Siphuma reportedly dismissed the technical approvals granted by his own Water and Sanitation Engineer, declaring he did not recognise him.
Escalating the matter to Town Clerk Loud Ramakgapola yielded little relief, as Siphuma allegedly snubbed a summons to his superior’s office.
“He was very bullish and disrespectful,” Dzobo stated. “Siphuma refused to come to the Town Clerk’s office to map the way forward. That showed disrespect and insubordination to his boss.”
Contacted for comment, Ramakgapola claimed he had not yet received a copy of Dzobo’s letter.
“I am not aware of the letter and I cannot comment on something I have not seen,” said Ramakgapola.
According to Dzobo’s letter—titled “Abuse of Office by Beitbridge Town Engineer” and copied to the Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South, Albert Nguluvhe—the saga began in September when he offered to fund a 170-metre sewer line to service his upmarket lodge and neighbouring properties.
Dzobo said he spent nearly US$4,000 on professional designs and hosted engineers from Harare to map the project at Siphuma’s request.
Siphuma initially seconded two junior council officials, surveyor P. Masuku and Water and Sanitation Engineer Kadyamusuma, to oversee the works. However, Siphuma abruptly halted the project right after trenching was completed.
“The matter was referred to a full council meeting, and the resolution was that we must proceed with the works,” Dzobo wrote.
Under the council-approved agreement, Dzobo was granted a two-year service charge exemption to offset his private expenditure, while the municipality would connect surrounding properties.
Despite the full council’s green light, Siphuma allegedly defied the resolution and ordered workers off the site after only 40 metres of piping had been laid.
Dzobo alleges the blockade stems from his refusal to grease the Town Engineer’s palms.
“When I went first to the Town Engineer’s office, he requested for money to pay him if I am going to proceed with the project, which I literally refused,” Dzobo charged. “I declined the request as it is corruption, and I could not see the need for me to pay him whatever amount as the municipality was also going to benefit from the project.”Beyond the stalled sewer project, Dzobo’s dossier paints a damning picture of systemic corruption, accusing Siphuma of profiting from Beitbridge’s chronic water crisis.
Dzobo alleges that Siphuma operates a private water-selling business on municipal open space where he illegally drilled boreholes and erected permanent structures without proper inspections, effectively converting council land into personal property.
“Is it allowed for the Town Engineer to sell water to the same town which he is supposed to provide water to?” Dzobo questioned.
“There are several areas around where he sells water which do not receive municipal water, and he deliberately does not want to provide water so as to make his business flourish.
“The businessman further accused Siphuma of running a reign of terror within the engineering department, systematically bullying subordinate engineers until they resign—a fate he claims currently threatens Engineer Kadyamusuma. He also alleged Siphuma manipulates leave days to maintain an iron grip on council operations, and blamed his “arrogance” for driving away multiple contractors from the Wamulala Road project, which has stalled for three years at great cost to taxpayers.
Calling for Siphuma to be placed on immediate forced leave, Dzobo urged the government to appoint an independent commission of inquiry to interview councillors, workers, and the District Development Coordinator (DDC).
“Development in Beitbridge cannot be stalled by one individual who is abusing his office and power,” Dzobo concluded, warning that Siphuma has become a direct stumbling block to National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030.
Dzobo attached photographic evidence to his petition showing the abandoned trenches in Impala Extension alongside the alleged illegal structures housing Siphuma’s water business.
Siphuma was not available for comment.