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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Beitbridge Municipality has started rolling out several capital projects, including paving of most buildings in the central business district, as it moves to enhance the town’s appearance. Town Clerk Mr Loud Ramakgapola said yesterday that they were also encouraging businesses to spruce up their buildings in line with the town’s transformation.

He said the town has been growing rapidly during the last decade.
“We are stockpiling G-blocks opposite Bata with the intention to pave and urbanise the town centre,” Mr Ramakgapola. “We are mainly focusing on that area.”

Mr Ramakgapola said they were also finalising their local development plan which should make it easier and quicker to invest in the town.

He said it was important to embrace the ease of doing business to boost the town’s economic and infrastructural growth.
“We are attracting a lot of investment because we are strategically located and if Government completes the dualisation or widening of the Beitbridge-Masvingo/Harare Road and fully modernise the border as well as complete the construction of Government flats along the highway, we will certainly be modernised,” he said.

The local authority has started naming streets, suburbs and business centres in line with its attainment of municipal status and the local authority’s modernisation drive.

Beitbridge town was elevated to a municipality on March 9 last year as part of the Government’s thrust to accelerate development at the country’s busiest port of entry.
The town has an estimated population of 70 000 and a daily transient population of 15 000.

Initially, the town had only one suburb, Dulivhadzimo, but now has 12. These are Matibe (low-density formerly Eastly), Tshidixwa (old medium-density near OJs Business Centre), Stauze (Mashavire, Garikai, Two Rooms and Mangavha areas), Khwalu 1 (Shule-shule and SDP stands), Kwalu 2 (Mfelandawonye and Forit stands), Mabidi (medium-density west of White Lodge) and Vhembe View (old low-density and CBD area).

Other suburbs are Madinginye (high and medium-density west of Welton Primary School), Siyoka (low- density stands along Bulawayo Road), Limpopo View (west of border post), Dulivhadzimo (old Dulivhadzimo and Vhembe High School area) and Milayo industrial areas (industrial area north of old medium-density suburbs).