Govt to ease housing shortages in Beitbridge
GOVERNMENT is set to build more houses to ease accommodation shortages for its workers deployed to Beitbridge border post, an official has said.
The acting chairperson of the Facilities Task Team for the Border Efficiency Management Systems, Ms Shingi Mudzamiri said the housing project was part of the One-Stop-Border Post initiative.
Speaking during a stakeholders meeting held recently to set into motion the implementation of the OneStop-Border-Post between Zimbabwe and South Africa at Beitbridge, Ms Mudzamiri said besides constructing new houses, they will also incorporate the 64 garden flats left at various stages of construction during the Beitbridge Redevelopment Programme.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce
Mkwasine Estate Clinic rehab on schedule CHIREDZI Rural District Council has stepped up efforts towards reopening Mkwasine Estate Clinic which was closed late last year when Tongaat Hullets pulled out its operations in the area.
The clinic — with a capacity to serve more than 20 000 people in the malaria area — is one of the facilities abandoned after the sugarcane processor seized operations in the area.
Other facilities include a golf club, country club and other amenities that are lying obsolete.
Chiredzi RDC chief executive Mr Isaac Matsilele yesterday said council was acting with speed on renovating the clinic and was waiting delivery of most equipment from suppliers as the sugar milling giant packed everything when they left.
“We have been given the green light by the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement to be the responsible authority at Mkwasine Estate Clinic,” he said.
“Judging by the huge population which the clinic saved before, we are working hard so as to resume operations as soon as possible.”
He said rehabilitating of the clinic was on schedule.
Mkwasine Clinic Steering committee chairman Colonel (Rtd.) Dennis Masomere said farmers had been forced to travel over 34km to seek medical care in Chiredzi.
“Most farmers have been complaining over the closure of the clinic. Pressure has been high at Pore Pore Clinic which is about 7km from Mkwasine Clinic.
“This forced farmers to travel about 34km to seek medical care at Chiredzi General Hospital. This facility was offering a critical service and we want it back,” he said.
Col (Rtd.) Masomere, who is also the chairman of the Mkwasine Sugarcane Farmers Association, said council should also look at rehabilitating the facilities abandoned when Tongaat Hullet moved from the area.
He said the farmers could also take charge of the abandoned facilities. chairs the national technical task team.
“We have been allocated seven hectares of land by Beitbridge Town Council where we intend to build flats for government workers deployed to the border.
“The actual number of houses will be based on the outcome of streamlined border procedures. It has become apparent that among other things, accommodation and infrastructure shortages is affecting operations at Beitbridge,” she said.
Ms Mudzamiri said the plans were now at an advanced stage considering that the One-Stop-Border-Post was now a reality.
She said various Government departments were running with low strength staff, while others were crammed in the few available houses.
“We have been working on a data base to establishment the actual numbers in terms of accommodation shortages.
“Most government departments have sent in their list, with the ZRP indicating that they require 472 houses for their workers,” she said.
The Herald is reliably informed that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority has 336 workers against a requirement of 450 officers.
The Department of Immigration has 80 as per the current set up, though they would need more under the OneStop Border Post initiative.
In addition, the ZRP has close to 600 members while the Vehicle Inspection Department has 46 employees.
Other Government departments have a combined 3 500 staffers, with many reportedly struggling to fill vacant posts due to perennial accommodation woes.