By Rex Mphisa
BEITBRIDGE Urban Ward 3 (Three) Councillor Takavingei Mahachi has said the local authority has taken a position against any demolitions of any houses in Kwalu 2.
He said no authority had been given for such a landmark decision and causing panic on residents was not necessary.
Speaking to Ziyah News Network at the weekend Mahachi said there were “10” ways to mitigate any fears of any nature as regards polution.
“We are still on the same position because no one authorised demolition.There is no resolution of council to demolish any property in Beitbridge, whoever demolishes, the law will take its course and cause. The existing resolution is to stop further developments,” he said.
“The Municipality of Beitbridge (MOB) and Alpha International Land Developers will engage with affected residents on stands not developed, that they be moved to another layout.We considered a lot including the houses were built under everyone’s watch,” he said.
Mahachi was not present when his four other councillors met residents served with Demolition Orders by the MOB Engineering Department.
The orders threaten thousands of dollars worth of ouses built in the scenic Kwalu 2 which overlooks the entire Beitbridge and South African Border Post sites.
In other civalisations, the area could be developed into an eye-catching area taking advantage of its slopes and breath-taking picturesque.
“There are a lot of things to consider before making such a resolution.There is an Environmental Impact Assessment signed by Engineer Douglas Siphuma, the then Town Planner L Sijiye and councillors who preceeded us,” he said.
He said undermining the work of previous councillors is undermining the residents.
Mahachi said several engineering solutions were at MOB’s disposal to mitigate any fears of pollution on the local authority’s reservoir Dam 2 ordinarily called “Gulliver”.
“If you take a closer look at the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report which approved project number 9312, which is Kwalu 2, even our Engineer made comments on possible solutions and going back against that is not fair to residents who toiled to put roofs on their heads,” he said.
“Even then, while we talk of contamination, how many dead donkeys even human beings have been recovered in that dam? Its not like water from that dam goes for direct consumption, no, it is processed. The main source of the dam is not even the area these houses are on, water is pumped into the dam from the Limpopo River,” Mahachi said.
“Demolition will never be an option, no,” Mahachi said weighing in on an earlier position by fellow councillors.
The area under spotlight is in Dulivhadzimu West where MOB 72 houses are in various stages of construction after their approval by MOB.
The EIA that set motion to the creation of 1 000 stands, 400 of which lie in the area under spotlight was done by Lityan Environmental Consultancies which consulted Beitbdidge Stakeholders.
A few weeks ago residents of those 72 houses received Demolition orders from MoB.
Soon after councillors accompanied by the director of the land developer met the residents reassuring them there would be no demolitions.
In a recent interview MoB chief executive Loud Ramakgapola said his office is opposed to the demolition and would explore several possible avenues to solve the thorny issue.
He also hinted some “petty” disagreements between the developer and some officials may have degenerated into the Demolition Orders.
Other investigations by this publication have also established some MoB staff may have commercially drawn plans for several of the 72 houses under spotlight.
This would expose officials who may have lined their pockets from buildings in the “unauthorised” area.
The said officials were from the engineering departments.