By Rex Mphisa
THE Matabeleland South Minister of State For Provincial Affair and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe this week read the riot act at the Beitbridge Municipality reminding officials of their role of service delivery.
In a no-holds barred meeting involving policy-makers, executives and a contracted service provider Nguluvhe told all to keep their eyes on the ball and work as a team.
Although he did not disclose what triggered his visit to Beitbridge Municipality, Nguluvhe confirmed he had publicly told some officials to shape up or ship out.
All has been unwell at the country’s southern most urban authority where the executive, policy-makers have in their different section been at each other’s throat and in the process injuring service delivery.
The affairs got so heated up to the extend where a councillor and another executive member allegedly invited the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission officials to “investigate” corruption in what turned a wild goose chase.
“I publicly told them to work for the residents and ratepayers and move rheir town to another level as is expected. I told them publicly,” he told Ziyah News Network.
I told an official not to usurp the office of the town clerk. Everyone must do their work,” said Nguluvhe.
He was however brief.
But a stakeholder who attended the meeting held in the municipality boardroom where the meeting was held and several people were left with eggs on their faces when Nguluvhe was direct and straight to the point about there being no excuse for service delivery.
“He was direct and hands on the topic of service delivery and undermining of each other’s offices. He was frank and very professional without any sacred cows left,” said a stakeholder choosing to remain anonymous.
“He was modest, expressing that all public service issues in his province had to be run through him and everyone must look at the Vision 2030 of an upper middle class economy across the country.
Although Beitbridge Municipality has potential to adequately cater for its 60 000 people, water, roads, and sewer services have completely failed.
Residents of most new suburbs do not have water, sewer lines and electricity.
While power remains a responsibility of ZESA, water and sewer reticulation remain a role of the municipality which should also ensure the streets are lit.
Beitbridge is also littered with incomplete jobs including the Dulivhadzimu Bus Terminus which has gone for years without being completed.
A health time bomb looms low waiting to explode triggered by the filthy Wamlala river flowing from raw sewage.
Nguluvhe also called for the amicable resolve of the Kwalu 2 housing dispute he said could be managed.