By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Beitbridge – New Beitbridge Rural District Council (BBRDC) Chief Executive Officer Kilibone Mbedzi has heard of funding gaps, stalled projects, non disbursement of Devolution Funds and Failure to purchase fuel with the ZiG hampering road grading projects.
The update came during a full council meeting on 30 September 2025, where Acting CEO Mr. Peter Ncube handed over the reins after serving in the role since the retirement of Mr. Peter Moyo in October 2024.
Ncube told councillors that the absence of devolution funds this year had affected progress on key infrastructure.
“We have not received any devolution disbursements for 2025, and this has made it difficult to push ahead with projects. At Dumba Clinic, for instance, a nurse has been deployed but outstanding works like water connection to the maternity wing and shelving for the pharmacy remain on hold,” he said.
On road rehabilitation, he noted that while the council had managed to grade several key routes, financial challenges persisted.
“We graded Lukange–Chaswingo and other major roads during the quarter, but our challenge is fuel. We cannot purchase it using ZIG, and that is slowing down maintenance work,” Ncube added.
Development partners have stepped in where council resources have fallen short. Ncube highlighted that World Vision had supported the construction of classrooms at Chaswingo Primary and Limpopo Secondary, while FAO had made progress on several irrigation schemes.
“At Jalukanga, a 20-hectare drip system is fully installed and already in use, while Sivule Irrigation is 100 percent complete and has a wheat crop in the ground,” he explained.
In her acceptance remarks, Mbedzi said she would prioritize strengthening monitoring systems to ensure projects are completed without unnecessary delays.
“I urge the monitoring and supervision of projects to ensure they are completed and commissioned on time. This will help avoid losses and prevent shortcuts, the monitoring and evaluation committees must play a critical role in this process,” she said.
With no devolution funds received so far in 2025 and many projects relying on donor support, Mbedzi takes over a council balancing progress with pressing resource challenges.