By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
THE Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution has called on Beitbridge residents to pay their rates and service charges, saying this is critical to improving infrastructure and service delivery in the border town.
Speaking during the Mabidi Clinic materials handover event on Monday, the Minister said that sustainable development of Beitbridge depends on the collective responsibility of its residents.
“Pay for the rates and services like water so that the town can be improved. Beitbridge can only be improved by its residents we should not wait for anyone else to come and develop our town,” he said.
Nguluvhe was concerned with persistent complaints about poor service delivery, particularly sewage management, noting that meaningful change requires both accountability from local authorities and financial support from residents.
“People are always complaining about sewage challenges, but these services require funding. Residents must play their part by paying for the services they receive,” he said.
He also directed council officials to take action in addressing infrastructure concerns, urging the town engineer to prioritise repairs of damaged roads and sewer systems.
“The town engineer must ensure that roads are fixed and sewer pipes are attended to. At the same time, residents must support these efforts through paying their rates,” he said.
The remarks come amid longstanding concerns from residents over poor service delivery, including sewage spills in residential areas and deteriorating roads in Dulibadzimu.
Nguluvhe’s call highlights the link between revenue collection and service delivery, stressing that improved living conditions in Beitbridge will require cooperation between the municipality and the community.