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Thupeyo Muleya–Beitbridge Bureau

Service delivery has gradually been improving at the cash-strapped Beitbridge Municipality as the Government continues pouring in funds for capital projects under the devolution initiative.

Among other things the local authority has in the last three years managed to procure a refuse compactor truck, and earth moving equipment, upgraded its ICT facilities and procured two service vehicles.

They also built five two-roomed houses to address the colonial problem of crowding in the Dulivhadzimu suburbs.

Last week the council completed the construction of a new primary school in the Kwalu 2 suburb, west of the border town.

Beitbridge Mayor, councilor Munyaradzi Chitsunge said they had spent $16 million to build the two classroom blocks at a new primary school that will have its first enrolment in 2023.

“The project started in November last year, and so far, we have managed to build two classroom blocks. This will help us improve service delivery in terms of providing more learning facilities in our town,” he said.

The town’s head of environmental health and social services, Mr Pio Muchena said they engaged Promel Construction to carry out the project last year.

He said so far the council-owned two primary schools and one secondary school.

Mr Muchena said more funds will be used to build more schools to accommodate the town’s ever-growing population.

“We are short of four primary and 2 secondary schools in our town and we have long-term plans to build these as and when funds become available.

So far, we have managed to use $16 million from our devolution allocations to build one more primary school in the western suburbs. We will have a name and register it with relevant authorities soon so that we enrol in the first classes next year,” he said.

Mr Muchena said ideally they need to have a primary school for every 5000 people and one secondary school with three feeder primary schools.

The town has an estimated population of 70 000 with three secondary and six official primary schools.

“As an indigenous construction company, which employees mostly the youth, we are happy that we have managed to contribute to infrastructure development in this town,” said Promel Construction director, Mr Promise Funani.