Municipal Reporter
MUNICIPALITY OF Beitbridge (MoB) policy makers on Monday moved a motion of exigency to outsource engineering expertise to address long-standing concerns they believe are not getting due attention in their town.
The councillors believe these ignored issues are health time bombs and also a disservice to people from whom money has been levied over the years.
Moving the exigency motion, Ward 3 Councillor Takavingei Mahachi cited the lack of toilets at the Siya So industrial area with 375 people who pay levies the Municipality of Beitbridge (MoB) daily.
Mahachi’s other issue was the lack of water supply to several suburbs including Mabidi, Siyoka and Madinginye, just to name a few where residents have gone for more than 10 years without council water.
His instalment triggered a litany of other complaints from fellow councillors who collectively agreed their issues were only given lip service with some outstanding work having been rolled over for more than 10 years over three different mayoral terms.
Mahachi launched the motion of exigency saying he was embarrased to see people from Siya So industry using bush toilets.
A motion of exigency is a formal proposal or request raised to address an urgent, pressing matter that cannot wait for normal scheduling or standard rules of procedure.
Councillor after another stood up mentioning their displeasure at the Engineering department rocked by internal fights.
“We have 375 people at Siya So who have no toilets and use the bush. We have spoken about this and we also inherited the complaint we know has been handled by three different mayors namely Morgan Ncube, Munyaradzi Chitsunge and incumbent Peter Mafuta Pirato,” said Mahachi.
“There are 375 people at Siya So and they have been paying money but they have no toilets and use the bush. I was embarrassed at a recent function at Oakley Institute when we saw people squatting in the bush as toilets,” he said.
And others followed.
Cllr Mary Ngorima mentioned the perennial sewage river over Wamulala River near the Municipal Cocktail Bar close to Mashakada business Centre.
“We have this sewer that is almost a permanent feature, why dont we just write to ratepayers and say we have failed? We also have other sewer bursts at some houses in the 1700 area that bursts everyday and have gone for long periods,” said Ngorima of Ward 5.
Two other sewer bursts near the Mayor’s residence and at Dulivhadzimu Primary School and Vhembe Secondary School were responsible for the flow at the Cocktail, she said.
She later told Ziyah News Network that at the last full Council meeting Engineer Douglas Siphuma had said he would attend to it soon after the meeting but never showed up.
“Up to now ‘dololo’ we have not seen him,” she said.
Cllr Emmanuel Takutaku of Ward 3 said their resolve to have Wamulala River desilted fell on deaf ears and has not been attended to almost close to eight months after the last floods.
Those floods also a visit by the Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe.
“Wamulala is full of sand and plastics and the rain season is beckoning. This means the houses will be flooded again,” said Takutaku.
He said months ago he was told the excavator was undergoing repairs and that was the last the topic was discussed. It falls under the engineering department.
On his visit to the flooded areas, which includes MoB hostels where staff reside, Nguluvhe openly asked whether Beitbridge had a qualified engineer.
Cllr Angeline Tauya had three major complaints about the incomplete sewer trunk line expected to migrate people from septic tank regimes in the Kwalu (SDP) and “Forit” (Mfelabdawonye) areas.
Although MoB had a deal with developers to build on the local authority’s behalf, it is the sole responsibility of council hence the attitude of the land developers who have been dragging their feet.
Tauya asked why MoB cattle were left to perch themselves overnight at the traffic circle (roundabout) near the multi-million Beitbridge Border Post.
“One day we will hear of an accident involving our cattle at that roundabout,” she said before she mentioned about the ugly state of the MoB roads.
For her Ward 2 Cllr Portia Shumba felt let down by the Engineering department as regards sewer connections àt the Blue villa lodge whose spillage and trenching has over the last months affected residents and a funeral parlour in its vicinity.
“I am worried about that place where no work is being done. The businessman supplied all material and all needed was for MoB to do the work but it was stopped and will the engineers tell residents why? Waste waterfrom he lodge is spilling to other properties,” said Shumba.
According to the director of Blue Villa Lodge, Siphuma stopped all the work there abruptly because he did not see eye to eye with his subordinates one of who he us currently suing over whatsapp messages.
“He wanted me to supply piping for the whole of Impala Extension. I bough equipment adequate to connect to the sewer trunk line from here. He specifically told me that one of his subordinates had no power,” the director Mr Dzoho told Ziyah News Network.
Only Cllr Brenda Maworera did not have an engineering issue but she asked the wisdom of repeatedly reading the Town Clerk’s report in the meeting and expect councillors to have mastered everything to follow.
“We have requsted that rhis report be sent to us ahead of the meeting so we can prepare and it seems noone heard us,” she said.
Acting Town Clerk Sathulani Moyo said the best person to respond would be Town Clerk Loud Ramakgapola who was not available.
In his report he however said a survey revealed that MoB was below average in its service delivery.
“We are expected to rate at 69 percent in the Minimum Service Delivery Standards but we are at 48.97 percent. About 51.03 percent of the residents are not happy with our service delivery,” he said.
In a survey of the service delivery 54.05 percent women voted while men accounted for 45.95 percent wose concerns were waste collection, sewer, roads and business licencing.
Moyo also said it was not possible to write a letter to say they had failed on their mandate.
Later Takutaku also questioned why a recent directive from the Ministry of Local Government was announced to the public without first notifying councillors.
“We thought it was prudent when you get such communication to first convene a meeting and advise councillors. It came to us as a surprise and what do we tell residents? We must be in the picture,” said Takutaku.
Recently MoB put a notice informing residents, vendors, property owners, commuter operators, and stakeholders that the Government of Zimbabwe has launched the National Clean-Up, Restoration, Orders and Safety Programme.
This will stop all home based industries and the order is effective from October 9, 2026 when Municipal officers shall be deployed around the town to check compliance of premises.