Use devolution funds to spruce up Beitbridge town: Minister

FINANCE, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has implored Beitbridge Municipality to channel part of its devolution funds towards sprucing up the border town’s key infrastructure to match its transformation initiative.

In an interview recently, Prof Ncube said the development of Beitbridge town should match the US$300 million modernisation of the border post.

“We have invested a lot of money into the upgrading of the Beitbridge Border Post and also launched the drones’ surveillance system, fast cargo scanners and electronic cargo systems. This is a majestic investment,” he said.

“Again, have handed over this block of 36 flats to Zimra workers deployed to Beitbridge and we know that there are other projects that still need to be completed and we are working on them together with the Ministry of National Housing.

“But also, we are aware that there is some infrastructure deficit within the Beitbridge town itself which includes the sewer and water reticulation facilities and roads linking the residential areas among others.”

Already, the Government has completed constructing a 5km dual carriageway linking the port of entry and the major highways leading to Bulawayo and Harare.

Other projects completed by the Government as part of the border transformation project include building 220 houses for border agencies, an 11, 4 mega litres reservoir, a new fire station, a new sewer oxidation dam and an animal and plant quarantine centre.

“I urge the Beitbridge municipality to use part of the devolution funds to spruce up the town to meet the development trajectory at the border,” said Prof Ncube.

Beitbridge is one of the busiest border posts in Africa, which not only connects Zimbabwe and South Africa but also serves as the transit point for the majority of north-south trade in southern Africa.

ZimBorders Consortium, working in partnership with the Government, transformed the Beitbridge Border Post into a world-class facility, which has completely changed the face of the border town.

The massive infrastructure development initiative is a build, operate, and transfer (BOT) arrangement.

Under the arrangement, the consortium will manage and maintain the infrastructure for 17 years to recoup the costs and also realise profits from its investment before handing over the facility to Government.

The massive project is one of the key economic and developmental initiatives successfully implemented by the Second Republic across the country and at its inception, created employment for more than 1 500 locals in line with the National Development Strategy 1 .

The modernisation of the Beitbridge Border Post is in line with Vision 2030, which seeks to attain an upper middle-income economy.

The upgrading and modernisation of Beitbridge Border Post will also speed up the implementation of the One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) concept between South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Prof Ncube said Government is also rolling out a robust housing development programme to provide decent infrastructure and houses for its workers across the country.

“With regards to the border post here (Beitbridge), we are determined to upgrade the infrastructure for all Government agencies and other security clusters. We are committed as a Government to providing decent accommodation for civil servants and we have said we don’t want to leave anyone or any place behind,” he said.