The Sunday News
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
THE urban sprawl that sits astride the Limpopo River between Zimbabwe and South Africa should be considered a single city when it comes to urban renewal and development.
But the differences between Zimbabwe’s Beitbridge town, on one side of the river, and Musina in neighbouring South Africa are stark. Beitbridge has serious problems when it comes to people-centred service delivery, infrastructure and water pollution issues. Musina is faring better. The general consensus among experts is that the two towns must work together to ensure that they grow on the same wavelength.
The two towns can be viewed as one urban development centre separated by a river, a bridge and border post with similar challenges on service delivery, infrastructure and pollution. Beitbridge town is Zimbabwe Government’s cash cow, while Musina plays a critical role in terms of international trade for South Africa.
The two towns have a twining agreement dating back to 1996. However, the development rate of these two towns has now become a contrasting tale of fraternal twins. Currently Musina is working on attaining city status while their other twin, Beitbridge is still to get municipality status.
The two towns have mutual arrangements on a host of service delivery areas including addressing issues such as; housing, water and sanitation, health and economic development among others.
Unfortunately, Beitbridge town is lagging behind on these areas while Musina seem to be getting everything right.
Dust streets and roads are a common feature in Beitbridge while Musina has been moving at lightning speed in addressing such areas.
Already other countries in Sadc are now avoiding using the border (Beitbridge Border Post) due to the unavailability of ideal basic services, coupled with the deplorable state of key infrastructure.
The population in Zimbabwe is increasing in general with some people moving to small towns and cities.
Analysts have often attributed the population growth in the town to its proximity to South Africa and location at one of the busiest inland ports in Sadc.
A closer look at the two places economic activities shows that they share the same burden when it comes to handling transit population.
An estimated 14 000 people in transit access the two countries daily through the same towns with an estimated population of 70 000.
Further, the population of the two towns has been increasing annually due to a number of push and pull factors.
The spirit of oneness is cultivated by a number of exchange programmes including the joint holding of major events such as the two countries marathon which is held as part of Musina town’s centenary celebrations.
The 42,2 km race starts in Beitbridge Zimbabwe and ends in Musina and has been going on for the last two decades.
Development synergies could also be developed by the two countries where sharing infrastructure should not be a problem.
In June 2014, the Government assumed ownership and operations of the New Limpopo Bridge following the end of the 20-year build, operate and transfer agreement with the New Limpopo Bridge (Ltd) a company which constructed the bridge in 1994.
At that time both governments proposed to have a Beitbridge Bridge Fund, which would see the equal sharing of proceeds from the bridge funding capital projects in Musina and Beitbridge towns.
Bureaucracy has delayed the take-off of the initiative which is set to fund projects in both towns.
While South Africa operates with a decentralised funding model for capital projects, Zimbabwe is still stuck with the centralised system, which often results in delays or failure to implement capital projects.
Many travellers who frequent both towns will bear witness that something is amiss in the growth of the two fraternal twins, when one compares infrastructure and economic development aspects.
Since the turn of the millennium, Musina has managed to lure investment to the town with the construction of many state-of-the-art buildings and shopping complexes.
On the other side of the river, Beitbridge has only the Zesa Pension Fund complex to show and the recently closed 140-bed hotel funded by the National Social Security Authority (Nssa).
The hotel which was being leased by the Rainbow Tourism Group, closed doors before actualisation due to viability issues.
Hotels have been closing at a rapid pace in Beitbridge in the last three years, while accommodation business is booming south of the Limpopo River.
In June this year, South Africa launched a logistics hub in Musina which is set to ease the cost of doing business and promote regional and international trade among Sadc countries.
The hub is a brainchild of Zimbabweans in the diaspora and is a culmination of a partnership between Lion Share, Burbey Group, Barloworld, Mac and Transnet.
South Africa’s minister of Industry and Trade, Dr Rob Davies officially opened the logistics hub, better known as the Musina Intermodal Terminal (MIT).
The event was also graced by captains of industry including ambassadors from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique among others.
Dr Davies said the initiative was in line with Sadc strategy on industrialisation and its quest to promote free trade and regional integration.
He said the logistics hub was part of the neighbouring country’s thrust on developing special economic zones.
Further, the MIT will create employment for many people around Limpopo province, where Pretoria has lined up a number of economic development programmes.
The hub will ease pressure on the Durban port through creating an alternative route for cargo leaving or entering Sadc.
Under the new order, goods will be shipped by rail from Durban and then off loaded to trucks at MIT, for further transportation to Zimbabwe and other countries north of the Limpopo River.
Logistics for goods destined for Durban and overseas markets will be transported in the same manner.
Despite having just three rail tracks at the local Transnet station, in Musina, South Africa has managed to capitalise on the opportunity.
On the other side Zimbabwe has failed to transform Beitbridge into a dry port considering that the local railway station has tracks which can carry at least 21 trains at any given time.
It is sad to note that besides Musina and Beitbridge lying on the Africa Union’s (AU) North-South corridor, the latter still lags behind on developmental issues though both governments are milking from the same transit cow.
The level of incoherent developments between the two neighbours can be witnessed right at the border post.
South Africa has a tarred and compact border post, while Zimbabwe has a bigger and dusty border post with limited facilities.
It is high time Zimbabwe swallowed its pride and took notes from South Africa on how to improve on urban development and planning issues.
It is also advisable that the two governments cut the red tape and operationalise the Beitbridge Bridge Fund, considering that the Zimbabwe National Road Agency (Zinara) is collecting close an estimated $1,6 million from motorists accessing both countries on monthly basis.
Beitbridge and Musina local authorities are encouraged to use twinning arrangements to overcome current and impeding challenges relating to underdevelopment.
As a way of promoting economic development in Beitbridge, the Government of Zimbabwe must use its Look East policy and encourage car dealers to set shop in the border town.
This will reduce import costs, at the same time creating employment for the locals and opening up business opportunities.
The current set up is favourable to South Africa that has over 15 car dealerships on their side of the border, though they don’t need those cars in their country.
Their argument is that they are protecting their local automobile industry, but they are making a killing from rental and bonds and clearance fees from at least 300 vehicles which are shipped into Zimbabwe through Beitbridge daily.
Zimbabwe, which badly needs these cars, should smell the coffee and take action to boost Beitbridge and national economic development.
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