Beitbridge Municipality works on CBD expansion 

ELLEN MLAMBO
TWO NATIONS REPORTER

BEITBRIDGE- Municipality of Beitbridge is expanding its Central Business District (CBD), which will see business growth in the SADC’s busiest border post. 
Town Clerk Loud Ramakgapola confirmed the development to Two Nations. He said the new CBD will have 33 stands and stretches from Engen Garage to Tshitaudze Township Turnoff.
Ramakgapola said the new CBD will have a minimum three storey buildings with a modern design supporting the infrastructure available at the new border post. 
He could not comment on the cost of the new CBD nor its expected time frame. 
 “The design and servicing will be self–financed as we have not identified partners for the servicing of the layout,” said Ramakgapola. 
Beitbridge Mayor Councillor Munyaradzi Chitsunge said surveys were done, and what is outstanding is to start servicing in terms of roads and sewer reticulation before construction of buildings commences.
He said this in his farewell speech during a 2023 half-year budget review meeting.
Chitsunge said they engaged an engineering firm to design the roads, water and sewer network for the new CBD.  
He said the engineers are on the ground working flat out to ensure that work progresses and the development is one project their successors will be happy to carry forward. 
Chitsunge said the expansion stretches between Makhado Road and the main highway towards the Mashavire shopping area (northern side). He said there would be business structures, offices and medical facilities. 
“There will be banks, medical facilities and others commonly found in a CBD. We have no other alternative around town. We will be forced to identify other areas out of town, maybe the eastern side. 
“The town has to grow in terms of commercial activities. We cannot be talking of a town or having adjudicators of growth without commercial businesses and thus the town remaining a dormitory town,” said Chitsunge.