Minister tours flood-prone township

A TOUR of the flood-prone Dulivhadzimu Township in Beitbridge was conducted yesterday by the Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Albert Nguluvhe, as Government intensifies efforts to find permanent solutions to the area's persistent flooding problems.

Minister Nguluvhe was accompanied by senior Government officials, members of the local Civil Protection Committee and Beitbridge town clerk, Mr Loud Ramakgapola, as he assessed the situation on the ground. Beitbridge Municipality has acknowledged the growing challenge of frequent flash floods in low-lying parts of the town, which become highly vulnerable during the rainy season.

Residents in Dulivhadzimu have endured years of flooding, particularly those living near the old long-distance bus terminus, Dulivhadzimu Business Centre, the police base, hostels, the flea market and the local stadium. Rising water levels in these areas have caused recurring hardship for the community.

During the visit, Minister Nguluvhe emphasised the need for teamwork and wide consultation by the local authority when implementing an urban renewal concept for the township. He issued a 90-day ultimatum for the council to effectively address the challenges affecting Dulivhadzimu.

"The issue of flash floods, bad roads and poor service delivery should be put to rest," said Minister Nguluvhe.
"We need to work together to find a lasting solution to these problems. We are deeply concerned about the plight of these community members."

The minister underscored the importance of collaboration between central Government, local authorities and the private sector in implementing the urban renewal concept, which includes improving drainage systems, better infrastructure planning and enhanced service delivery.

His visit followed recent flooding incidents that further disrupted the lives of residents. Minister Nguluvhe also challenged the council to address concerns around temporary vending sites, particularly issues related to water, sanitation and hygiene.

In response to the recurring floods, the municipality has relocated the long-distance bus terminus to higher ground, with civil works for the new rank now underway. The project is being implemented in phases by the local authority after a private contractor was dismissed for poor performance.

"We can't continue to have people living in fear of flooding every time it rains," said Minister Nguluvhe.
"We need to take a holistic approach to address the root causes of these problems and ensure that our communities are safe and well-served."

The council's engineering department was tasked with developing a comprehensive plan to tackle service delivery challenges across the town, with particular focus on stormwater drainage and the Dulivhadzimu area.

Beitbridge Senator, Tambudzani Mohadi, and Beitbridge West legislator, Thusani Ndou, who accompanied the minister, called for urgent and permanent solutions to the flooding problem, pledging their support to the council.

Mr Ramakgapola said the municipality had issued a tender for a feasibility study to kick-start the urban renewal of Dulivhadzimu Township. He added that ZWG3 million had been set aside to address drainage problems and desilting in the township's oldest sections.

The town clerk said the council was also seeking Government approval for direct procurement to fast-track urgent works, citing challenges in attracting investors for the renewal project.

"We have taken note of the yearly flooding issues in that area, and we need to re-plan property development strategically," said Mr Ramakgapola.
"This year, we aim to make significant progress on challenges that we cannot allow to persist. We are also working on our equipment to ensure we can quickly carry out desilting to improve water flow."

Chairperson of the local Civil Protection Committee, Mrs Sikhangzile Mafu, said authorities remained on high alert for climate-related disasters as the rainy season continues.

She said 23 houses had so far collapsed due to moisture in rural Beitbridge, although no fatalities had been recorded.

Mrs Mafu added that ward committees were being used to gather information and enable rapid response, with evacuation centres already identified on higher ground, mainly schools and churches, particularly in Ward 4 and other flood-prone areas near major rivers and water bodies.