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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has committed RTGS$250 000 to fix infrastructure at Beitbridge Border Post that was damaged by violent storms recently. Zimra’s head of communications Mr Francis Chimanda confirmed the development last week.

He said the repair works have already commenced and they were looking forward to completing the programme at the end of this month.

“However, it is probable that some of the work will be completed next month. RTGS$250 000 has been committed towards the repair works. The budget will be increased if the amount is exhausted before the repair works are completed,” said Mr Chimanda.

“The damages caused by the violent storm at Beitbridge were to the roof of the main Terminal Building roof, ZIMRA and Immigration counters, ceiling at reception area and the regional manager’s office.

“In addition, the entry and exit search sheds roofs were, workshop warehouse, ramp warehouse and the CCTV building’s rooftops were damaged. The ZIMRA and Agriculture re-deployable office cabins were also overturned.”

He said two employees, who were in the re-deployable cabin that overturned, one from the Ministry of Agriculture and the other from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), suffered minor injuries.

“They were treated at the hospital and discharged,” he said.
At the moment Zimra is relying on two make-shift warehouses after the three major buildings were destroyed by fire between 2014 and this year.

“The State warehouses, which were destroyed by fire, will not be repaired. Rather they will be replaced by new ones that will be built under the Beitbridge Redevelopment Project, which has just commenced,” said Mr Chimanda.

Apart from the infrastructure at the border post, seven schools, one clinic and over 100 homesteads have also been affected since the start of the rainy season.

In January property worth approximately US$190 000 was destroyed when a State warehouse caught fire at the border post. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.