Committee set up to tackle traffic congestion in city

Mukudzei Chingwere
Herald Reporter
An inter-ministerial committee has been set up to tackle the congestion on many city roads following the economic upturn and to work out how street lighting can be put back in place

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting that Cabinet had noted that there was increased economic activity due to the decisive interventions by Government on the financial sector.

“Additionally, the easing of the lockdown measures, the increased availability of fuel on the local market and increased economic activity, have seen the number of cars on our roads increase and this has resulted in vehicle traffic congestion.

“To that end, an Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works has been directed to look into decongesting the roads and addressing the poor the lighting in our cities,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

“Road users are also reminded to be cautious on the roads and observe the laid down regulations as some are now causing chaos.”

Government is working on improving the country’s road network system. National highways are being widened and a major programme to repair damaged roads in urban areas is in progress, with the Government moving into what was normally a municipal responsibility, along with the normal Government work on maintaining rural roads.

As one major element in plans already in progress to ease a major source of congestion, road engineers want to replace the now clogged Mbudzi roundabout, which when built helped alleviate congestion but which is now overwhelmed, with a flyover at the intersection of Simon Mazorodze Road, Chitungwiza Road and High Glen Road.