Beitbridge residents who were allocated stands under the Alpha International Land Developers’ project near the town’s water supply dams have been served with orders to demolish their structures built on unauthorised land.
According to reports from the border town, the demolition orders were signed by the Beitbridge director of engineering Douglas Siphuma in a bid to restore the land to its original state.
Beitbridge town clerk Loud Ramakgapola confirmed the issuance of the orders in an interview with Southern Eye yesterday.
He said it was illegal for people to construct houses without the local authority’s approval.
“The law allows for demolition after following due process,” he said. “Council will look at on a case by case basis and map a way forward.”
Ramakgapola said the Zimbabwe National Water Authority wrote to council about the illegal structures.
“The developer is responsible. We wrote a prohibition order, we cannot punish residents in that manner, we will do individual assessment,” he said, adding that the Beitbridge Municipality would engage the developer and map the way forward.
Beitbridge town, which was founded in 1929, is located at the border of Zimbabwe and South Africa. It received municipal status in 2018 through Statutory Instrument 28 of 2018.
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The name also refers to the Beitbridge Border Post, the busiest inland port of entry in sub-Saharan Africa.
