Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
Beitbridge Municipality’s plans to develop a new Central Business District (CBD) have gained traction following the awarding of a tender to a contractor recently.
The new CBD will be located between the Engen Service Station and Mashavhire Business Centre in Tshituadze suburb.
This project is part of the town’s transformation into a modern city, aiming to boost economic growth and development.
At the moment the CBD is located about 1km north east from the Beitbridge border post.
Beitbridge Town Clerk, Mr Loud Ramakgapola, told stakeholders during a Full Council meeting on Monday that the municipality has awarded a tender to Tiger Eye.
He said the program is expected to begin between December (this year) and January next and will take approximately six months to complete.
“A meeting has been held between council management and the contractor to finalize the project’s details,” said Mr Ramakgapola.
“Under this development model, the contractor will fund the servicing of the area and will charge clients intending to invest in the new CBD.
This project aligns with our vision as a local authority to transform Beitbridge town which emphasizes the importance of infrastructure development and attracting investors”.
He said investors in the new CBD area will be expected to embrace the densification concept and construct properties from four storeys going up.
Mr Ramkagkapola highlighted that the development of the new place should create economic opportunities for residents and investors, at the same time enhancing the town’s commercial and business landscape.
This development is part of the municipality’s efforts to promote economic growth and improve service delivery to citizens.
It is also envisaged that the project is anticipated to have a positive impact on the local community, providing access to modern business facilities and creating employment opportunities.
“This is a very important project to us as a local authority and hence we want to ensure it takes off as soon as possible,” said Mr Ramakgapola.
“As we walk the road to modernisation, we also intend to hire an engineering consultancy company to carry out a feasibility study in the Dulivhadzimu rank area which is prone to flooding. This is part of our urban renewal plan in that area”.
He said efforts were being made to speed up the construction of a modern Dulivhadzimu long distance bus terminus.
Mr Ramakgapola said work had been progressing slowly recently after they encountered some machinery breakdown.
He said the volume of buses using the current facility was increasing and hence a strong need for them to match that by offering quality service delivery.
“We are working on speeding up work at the Long distance Dulivhadzimu bus terminus where work had slowed due to a fault on our equipment. You will note that as of August handled a total of 11, 600 buses. So, it’s compelling for us to urgently complete this project to make our rank attractive,” he emphasised.
Mr Ramakgapola said the municipality was also working on a number of ways to maximise revenue collection which is currently below their target.
He said the local authority was continually engaging their debtors and that in some instances they will have to make use of debt collectors.
The council was collecting 21 percent of targeted revenue, a set up that’s adversely affecting service delivery.
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