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Thupeyo Muleya  Beitbridge Bureau

Beitbridge East legislator Cde Albert Nguluvhe has called on Government to mobilise resources to complete outstanding projects under the Beitbridge Redevelopment Programme (BRP), which seeks to transform the town into a medium city.

He said the completion of most housing projects will also help solve staff deployment issues at the border post where most Government departments are understaffed.

Cde Nguluvhe was speaking during a familiarisation tour of the border post last week.

The shortage of manpower has been singled out  as the main impediment to quality service to travellers and commercial goods transporters.

“This visit was an eye opener on the operations and issues obtaining here,” said Cde Nguluvhe. “It is apparent that there is a shortage of accommodation and manpower at the border, but I am glad to note that you are doing your level best to maximise revenue collection and the smooth movement of both cargo and human  traffic.

“We are going to engage the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to ensure that they speed up the completion of projects under the Beitbridge Redevelopment Programme.

“There is an urgent need for Government to avail funds for the BRP considering that most of the buildings are succumbing to wear and tear before completion, especially the 64 garden flats.

“It is important that as we transform the town, we should also look into the plight of those who are keeping things moving at this border post, which is one of the busiest inland ports in the country and Sadc.”

Cde Nguluvhe said it was important for Government to look into the plight of those people living in the 250 houses built under Hlalani Khuhle, which were yet to be connected to electricity and sanitation facilities.

“The situation at Hlalani Khuhle houses is appalling and we have to start working on improving people’s way of life in this area. There is an urgent need to connect these houses to water, sewer and electricity,” said Cde Nguluvhe.

The Herald is reliably informed that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) needs at least 500 workers at Beitbridge and currently has a shortfall of around 100 people.

In addition,  the Department of Immigration has a full staff complement of 80 people, which was set over two decades ago. However, there is strong need to review the numbers in tandem with the current workload and demands.

The redevelopment programme initiative was launched by Government in July 2006 through the National Economic Development Priority Programme (NEDPP).

At that time, the Ministry of Local Government was then tasked with implementing the BRP.