Source: Municipality to erect more tower lights – herald
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
BEITBRIDGE Municipality intends to erect more tower lights to enhance public safety, especially in new suburbs.
In a recent interview, Town Clerk, Mr Loud Ramakgapola, said the municipality had agreed in principle with Econet to use its base stations to set up the tower lights.
He said in some instances, new tower lights will be set up from the ground. Mr Ramakgapola said this decision follows budget consultations with stakeholders and residents, who highlighted public safety as a key concern.
He highlighted that the installation of tower lights is expected to improve visibility and reduce crime rates in the town.
“We have since received communications from the police concerning the limited public lighting facilities in the town in light of rising cases of robberies in some sections of the town,” said Mr Ramakgapola.
“In addition, we have had requests for increased public lighting from members of the community and in our budget for next year, we have allocated some funds to the setting up of five new tower lights in some suburbs.
“So far, we have agreed in principle with Econet Wireless to set up tower lights at some of its base stations in Beitbridge town.
“We believe this collaboration will enable us to leverage existing infrastructure, making the project more efficient and cost-effective.”
Secretary of the Beitbridge pastor’s fraternal, pastor Busani Moyo, said the council had made a great decision that will enhance the community members’ safety, especially at night.
He said that already the religious leaders from various denominations are mobilising the community to complement the Government’s efforts in fighting crime in the border town where cases of house breaking and robberies are increasing.
The leaders from various denominations are rolling out community engagement meetings with the support of the Zimbabwe Republic Police to discuss cross-cutting issues.
“We welcome the decision by the local authority to address deficiencies on issues to do with public lighting, considering that we recently recorded an increase in crimes of concern in our area, and we are meeting with communities to reduce, end these cases in our town and district,” said pastor Moyo.
A resident of Dulivhadzimu suburb, Mr Kudakwashe Chasauka, commended the council for being responsive to issues affecting the community.
“This is a good idea. We have many dark areas around our town which compromise safety and security.
The rate of theft and robberies has increased in our town over the past years,” he emphasised.
“It is no longer safe to walk at night and darkness adds more cover for criminals. So, lighting our town will go a long way in mitigating the rate of theft and robberies in our town”.
Local journalist, Patience Moyo, said the tower lights were long overdue, considering the rate of plain robberies and other violent crimes against both men and women, which have become common in some dark spots around the town.
“This is a welcome development for us as the business community as it seeks to improve on the general security of our clients and properties at night,” said businessman Mr Remember Ndou.
“At the same time, we encourage the local authority to carry out a proper tender process where companies with a traceable background and reputation should be engaged for the job, not because they are a locally based company, it should be by merit so that we benefit our community”.
Ms Lumbedzani Ribombo, a member of the local crime consultative committee, said besides tower lights, the council should also consider installing more street lights in the suburbs.
She said the rate at which crime was being committed in dark places around the town was worrying.
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