A NUMBER of government initiated infrastructural projects in Beitbridge, Matabeleland South have stalled owing to underfunding and neglect.
This emerged during a recent field tour of key infrastructure projects under the Beitbridge Rural District Council by Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs minister, Albert Nguluvhe..
The visit sought to assess progress and challenges affecting implementation of critical projects in the district.
One of the main sites visited was the proposed Beitbridge Airport in Lutumba, Ward 15, which was allocated 150 hectares of land.
The project has stalled due to lack of resources, despite a ground-breaking ceremony held a few years ago.
Illegal settlements have also begun to encroach on the site.
“The airport is a strategic development for Beitbridge and the province,” Nguluvhe said.
“We cannot allow illegal settlers to delay progress.
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“I have directed the district development coordinator and (Beitbridge Rural District) RDC CEO to engage traditional leaders so that the land is cleared.”
Nguluvhe said the project, estimated to cost around US$100 million, had already been tabled with the Transport and Infrastructure Development ministry for prioritisation.
At the Mtshilashokwe River Bridge, which was destroyed by a cyclone, the minister raised concern over its impact on economic and social activities.
The collapse has disrupted coal transportation from Tuli Coal Mine, isolated villagers in Ward 8, and affected safari and farming operations between Shashe and Beitbridge town.
“We need to urgently prepare a budget and mobilise resources for the reconstruction of this bridge,” Nguluvhe said.
“The delay is affecting livelihoods, especially during the rainy season.”
The delegation also visited the Beitbridge District Hospital, where several challenges were noted, including a shortage of 40 nurses, a broken X-ray machine, and limited ambulance coverage.
“We cannot have a referral hospital operating without critical equipment and staff,” the minister said.
“I will follow up with the relevant ministries.
“In the meantime, I have suggested that doctors rotate monthly to rural clinics to assist communities.”
At the District Registry office, officials highlighted operational challenges related to load shedding and unpaid allowances from past outreach programmes.
“I have asked the responsible departments to resolve these issues immediately so that services to the public are not disrupted,” Nguluvhe said.
Meanwhile, most of the out of port projects including the 11.4 mega-litre tank in Beitbridge town are either white elephants or still not in use.
A parliamentary portfolio committee on infrastructure and development which visited Beitbridge Border Post on a familiarisation tour heard that the town’s water tank had not been connected to the town's water reticulation system.
Beitbridge faces difficulties supplying the entire town with water and the water tank that was seen as the answer, with its gravitational capacity totally eliminating distribution pumping costs.
"We are not yet utilising water from the tank although it would be ideal because this would cut electricity costs,” said town clerk Loud Ramakgapola.
“It was not connected and if we do the pressure is excessive and causes pipe bursts.”
He said while the fire station was important to the town, one fire tender was inadequate to cover the whole town and the mult-million investments in the border.
The Beitbridge Border Post was upgraded at a cost of nearly US$300 million with automated facilities.
Outside the border, part of that money was used to build an animal quarantine that houses different departments, but the facility faces intermittent power supplies.
Last week, the quarantine did not have electricity.
Its laboratory, which is expected to test samples of plants, seed and animals is not yet equipped enough.
The incinerator used to destroy undesirable imports is inadequate.
The road to the quarantine was not repaired and very hard to navigate much to the disappointment of the Members of Parliament.
Another site that still remains unused is the Department of Roads Camp to house the district roads engineer which awaits "official commissioning" despite President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially opening it.
"We do not know how many times this has to be commissioned,” asked one resident.
“It remains unused but we understand the commissioning by the president.”
Mnangagwa on September 1, 2022 commissioned the modernised Beitbridge Border Post and said all border posts would be upgraded to improve the quality of services in the transport sub-sector.
He directed Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Felix Mhona, to ensure the speedy upgrading of the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway, a job far from completion.
Among other issues raised were steep rentals civil servants were expected to pay which eroded their US dollar component of their meagre salaries.
