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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Beitbridge Town Council is seeking partners to develop infrastructure and carry out major capital projects mainly through public-private partnerships, as the border town gears towards municipal status. The development comes as the border town is struggling to roll out several major capital projects owing to lack of resources.

Speaking during a mid-year budget review meeting recently, town council chairperson Cde Showa Moyo said the local authority was financially strained and struggling to carry out outstanding developmental projects.

She said it was critical to embrace an integrated effort in championing both economic and infrastructural development.

“We ride on your support morally, socially and financially to deliver quality and efficient services to your door step,” said Cde Moyo.

“The local authority is in the midst of courting partners for the construction of a bus terminus, stadium, fire station and shopping malls in existing and new suburbs.”

Other projects include construction of a public library, with information communication technology facilities and water reservoirs, together with housing development and stands servicing, building of a new hospital and a technical college.

Cde Moyo said councils were Government’s implementing agents for socio-economic transformation and delivery programmes at local level.

“Our town is on the verge of being declared a municipality and we thus have to up our game,” she said.

“We need your support and partnership as we journey into the town’s transformation.

“As residents and business people, it is largely your infrastructure and business activities that have contributed to this dream status of a municipality.”

Cde Moyo urged Government through the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to capacitate local authorities for them to fully deliver the required services in their jurisdictions.

She warned the local authority would soon repossess undeveloped commercial stands, which were allocated in 2009.

Those with properties in the town’s central business district were challenged to upgrade them to modern standards, while new strategies would continue to be adopted to urbanise the border town.