dyton mupawaenda
Trust Freddy–Herald Correspondent
Residents and ratepayers have blasted the Harare City Council for failing to find a lasting solution to the never-ending pothole nightmare that has grown over more than two decades since most maintenance that kept the roads in decent repair was stopped.
The latest revelations indicate that the city plans to rehabilitate only 60km of the approximately 4 350 km of roads in need of repair this year, which is only 1,4 percent of the roads. But in his new year speech, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said approximately 87 percent of Harare’s 5 000km road network needed rehabilitation.
“The 2024 target is to rehabilitate 60km of roads and maintain 500km, with funding challenges and insufficient disbursements from ZINARA (Zimbabwe National Road Administration),” Clr Mafume said.
This has left residents feeling ignored and let down as for many the thought of continuing to drive on such roads is a daunting prospect.
While main aterial roads have been upgraded or repaired by Government under the emergency programme, and a start by Government on side roads, the council has not matched Government effort and the rest of the road network continues to deteriorate.
The Herald yesterday observed several vehicles failing to negotiate huge potholes along Willowvale Road and it was the same along Glen View Way and Daniel Street in Mbare where there are huge potholes.
Gleneagles Road is also in a bad state, especially in the area near Southerton Shops, which has heavy traffic during peak hours.
The roads leading to most of the city’s high-density suburbs such as Kuwadzana, Budiriro and Dzivaresekwa are in a state of disrepair.
“We are risking our lives every time as we are sometimes forced to take dangerous risks, like driving against oncoming traffic, to avoid potholes,” a commuter omnibus driver , Brighton Chibvongodze of Budiriro said.
“This is especially dangerous when the roads are wet, as there is a greater risk of skidding and losing control of the vehicle and our passengers are also at risk.”
With no easy solution in sight, there is no respite for Harare residents as the pothole nightmare is likely to continue for the foreseeable future on the roads where the council is supposed to have responsibility.
“These are not potholes but gullies,” Mr Daniel Chigombe of Dzivaresekwa said. “You run the danger of not only endangering your life but your car as well because attempting to avoid potholes increases the chances of running into an approaching car and damaging your car if you travel through them.”
Another Harare resident of Mbare, Ms Sharmaine Manyepwa said a more permanent solution is needed as most of the roads have outlived their life span.
“Harare City Council’s current approach of using gravel is not effective, as it is easily washed away by rain. In fact pothole filling is not a sustainable solution to the road infrastructure problem.”
Another resident, Mr Malvin Mangwenzi said the Harare City Council’s track record of mismanaging other essential services raises doubts about its ability to properly use roads funds.
“Harare City Council often blames ZINARA for its failure to maintain the city’s roads, but they are also failing to provide other basic services such as refuse collection and safe drinking water.”
Commenting on the latest city’s road plan for this year, Harare Residents Trust director Mr Precious Shumba said the City of Harare needs to have a strategic approach in partnership with the City Parking and the Harare Quarry.
“These two companies are strategic business units for the City and Harare Quarry should increase its capacity and provide more quarry stone at reasonable prices for the benefit of Harare.
“City Parking should be given more areas to control so that they can generate more revenue for the repair and maintenance of the city’s roads.”
Mr Shumba implored the Government to reconsider the vehicle licensing model to ensure that local authorities receive their funds on time from ZINARA in forex.
ZINARA has, however, previously said the Harare City Council has not been submitting acquittals on how money previously disbursed to it has been used. Zinara needs to know how money sent to a local authority was spent, before it can send more.
Online Reporter