Minister Threatens Commission for Beitbridge If Flooding Crisis Not Resolved

Matabeleland South Minister Albert Nguluvhe has warned Beitbridge Municipality that he will recommend a commission if chronic flooding and stalled infrastructure problems are not resolved within three months (image source)

BEITBRIDGE — Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Albert Nguluvhe has issued a stern ultimatum to the Municipality of Beitbridge, warning that he will recommend the appointment of a commission to run the town if local authorities fail to provide lasting solutions to chronic flooding and stalled infrastructure projects.

Nguluvhe’s visit followed extensive tours of low-lying areas where poor drainage and dilapidated facilities have left residents exposed to water damage and heightened health risks. During the inspection, the minister ordered the municipality to complete long-delayed works, including the Dulivhadzimu Bus Terminus, and to ensure running water and adequate sanitation at the fresh produce market used daily by hundreds of traders and customers.

He warned that poor hygiene conditions and persistent flooding could trigger a cholera outbreak if not urgently addressed. Nguluvhe gave the council a three-month deadline to resolve the most pressing problems and instructed officials to outsource engineering expertise where internal capacity is lacking. “We cannot keep sitting and discussing this forever. A solution must be found, and we must provide that solution ourselves. No one will do it for us. I am giving you three months to fix this,” he said.

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The minister also criticised municipal leadership for what he described as misplaced priorities, urging the reallocation of resources from salaries toward service delivery. He questioned the management of rental income from municipal flats and revenue generated from bus parking fees, suggesting that funds were not being channelled into maintenance or capital development. “You are collecting rent from those flats without improving them in any way. You take the money, and we do not know where it goes,” he said, noting that bus parking fees alone generate significant daily income.

Nguluvhe singled out several council officials for reprimand and directed the immediate desilting of blocked drainage channels. Ward 4 councillor Emmanuel Takutaku told the minister that he had repeatedly requested a backhoe to clear a clogged channel responsible for recurrent flooding, but was informed that equipment and even basic supplies such as welding rods were unavailable.

Municipal town clerk Loud Ramakgapola acknowledged the council’s financial challenges and appealed for alternative solutions. He said the authority had mapped problem areas under an urban renewal programme and planned to relocate a police base that is regularly affected by flooding.

Beitbridge’s vulnerability has been compounded by inadequate drainage infrastructure and years of deferred maintenance. Nguluvhe’s warning to recommend a commission underscores the seriousness of the crisis and the growing political pressure on local authorities to act decisively. He urged transparency, accountability and the immediate mobilisation of resources to protect residents and traders.

With a three-month deadline now in place, the municipality faces a critical test: deliver tangible improvements or risk external intervention to restore basic services and public confidence.