By Rex Mphisa
THE Beitbridge Municipality, in midnight rage, went and destroyed the toilets despite recommendations by its policy makers that the structure be regularised.
Some people who live at the terminus said council workers arrived in the thick of the night to destroy the toilet.
“We were surprised by their timing. We never knew council worked at night,” said a witness.
“We had to follow the court order,” Town Clerk Loud Ramakgapola said in a short reponse to questions.
The toilet they destroyed is on their (municipality) block of shops at the incomplete Dulibadzimu bus terminus.
The municipality failed to build the shop and entered into an agreement with businessman Samson Madzore on build-operate-transfer concept.
But the plan given to Madzore by the council has no toilets for staff in those shops.
As a result, the environment section of the same municipality will not approve the same building expected to be handed to council after 10 years of operation.
“We really dont know how it is happening. First we requested the TLB machine (excavator) to desilt Wamlala River to avoid flooding and we were told it was broken down. Now to come and destroy a structure we asked them to regularise, the same machine is available, this is funny,” said Councillor Emmanuel Takutaku.
He said after the toilet was built illegally councillors recommeded it be regularised because the structure did not have such a facility.
“We want to see how they will give it an occupation certificate,” he said.
Madzore said the development was hurtful because it appeared he same organisation he was benefactor was not thankful.
He said he is strongly considering selling his investments in Beitbridge to move to other towns where business climate is favourable.
“This is their building. It is their plan. They cannot approve it. Yes there was a court order to destroy the toilet,” said Madzore.
At the time the toilet was destroyed, Madzore had sought the intervention of the Minister of Local Government and Public Construction Daniel Garwe.
It is understood Garwe assigned an officer to investigate the case and reach an amicable solution.