By Rex Mphisa
A land developer contracted to service Beitbridge’s new commercial business district between Tshitaudze and south of the Government flats opposite St Josephs Primary School is stranded after Municipality Of Beitbridge officials are yet to sign documents.
Tiger Eye Land Developers who arrived from Mutare last week and have since drilled a borehole on their site, can only start work after certain documents have been signed by the Engineering section of MoB.
The company’s equipment can be seen near the huge baobab tree near where the road to Tshitaudze branches from the main highway leading to the border.
“I am informed there are some officials who have “not finished reading” the contract documents. I am nit sure why it is like that but we have all known these developers have been coming. It is just because the officials are in charge and can do what they want but it is not fair to residents,” chairman of the Works Committee of MoB Cllr Takavingei Mahachi said in an interview on Friday.
A new CBD earmarked for the area covering where the current Fresh Supplies Market ordinarily called Speed.
“We visited Mutare on a due diligence mission and the council resolution which the executive is expected to work on was done way back but I am not sure what should be driving these attitudes,” said Mahachi.
Tiger Eye is a Mutare based company that won the Tender to develop stands on the new CBD.
It is understood the Municipality is expected to benefit 15 percent of the total cost of the project believed worth several millions.
Beitbridge town clerk Loud Ramakgapola said all was set for the new CBD development.
“It is correct we have a company that has arrived to develop the new CBD. We expect them to start soon and they have already drilled a borehole for their uninterrupted water supply during the works,” he said.
He did not say which office was delaying the start of the project expected to change the outlook of Beitbridge.
It is not clear where the Speed market would be moved to after residents of the medium density near White Lodge said the fresh supplies market would devalue their area if put in between their houses.
Although a full council sitting in April waved down a concern raised by Ward 3 Councillor Mahachi, in social groups residents of the area are unhappy with the decision to have the fresh supplies market in their area..
“There is not a single town where you have such a bulk market n a medium density area. This is ordinarily located in the industrial or high density area. This will significantly reduce what our houses are worth, these stands did not come cheap,” said a resident.