Online Reporter
Herald Correspondent
THE newly commissioned Trabablas Traffic Interchange has brought a breath of fresh air to Harare’s roads, revolutionising the way traffic flows in the city.
This multi-million-dollar project has not only reduced congestion but has also become a local attraction, with residents flocking to marvel at its grandeur.
The old Mbudzi roundabout was a hotbed of chaos, with fruit and vegetable vendors spilling onto the road, furniture sellers displaying doors, door frames, and wardrobes in a disorderly fashion, and pirate taxis swooping in to pick up and drop off passengers.
It was further narrowed by vendors encroaching on the pavement, creating a toxic mix of pedestrians, vehicles, and general mayhem.
However, the newly built Trabablas Traffic Interchange has transformed the area into a model of efficiency and order.
As The Herald visited the site yesterday, it was evident that the interchange was a hive of activity.
Locals of all ages were touring the area, taking photos, and grinning from ear to ear.
The elderly, young couples, and families with children were all enjoying the new infrastructure, with some even parking their cars at a distance just to walk on the interchange.
The traffic flow was seamless, with motorists using the correct routes and no vehicles reversing.
A team of police and Traffic Safety Council officials were on hand to assist anyone having difficulties with the road signs.
“Good morning, we are a joint team from the police and Traffic Safety Council. We will assist with road sign queries. If you don’t need help, you are good to go,” said a friendly Traffic Safety Council official.
All vehicles were being slowed down by the team before entering the interchange, and the officials were very friendly.
In the past, traffic would build up from Zindoga shopping centre to the roundabout, taking even up to four hours to navigate.
Peak hours were no longer identifiable, as the roads were congested from early morning, only easing slightly in the evening.
It used to take over two hours to drive to Glen Norah due to congestion, but yesterday, the same journey took this news crew under 30 minutes.
Motorists were able to cross the interchange in a matter of minutes, with some even making U-turns to come back and admire the structure.
Locals were effusive in their praise of the interchange: “What is good is good; milk needs no seasoning (Chakanaka chakanaka mukaka haurungwi),” said Mr Everson Magwenzi. “People who have never set foot here are the ones who will talk bad about this interchange, but once you come here, you’ll be wowed.”
While some motorists had expressed concerns about getting lost at the interchange, The Herald found that the road signs were clear and conspicuous.
“I was afraid of getting lost, but I’m actually surprised that there are clear road signs,” said Mr Carlton Chaka, a motorist heading to Masvingo. “The challenge is that some drivers want to get into the interchange at high speed, so they will miss the signs.”
Others attributed the confusion to a lack of familiarity with reading road signs.
“Some people aren’t in the habit of reading signs; they don’t apply what they learnt in the Highway Code,” said Mr Kelvin Mhembere.
“I’ve seen videos of people trying to reverse, which shows that some drivers still need to improve their skills.”
The area was previously an eyesore, with vendors selling furniture and trucks blocking the road.
However, with the construction of the interchange, the area has been transformed.
The pedestrian lanes lead to service lanes, but many pedestrians are still opting to use the main lanes to get a bird’s-eye view of the interchange.
As one lady, Tadiwa, put it, “This place is nice. You can come here for a photoshoot, and if you tell someone who went outside the country five years ago, they won’t believe that this is Mbudzi (Trabablas interchange).”
Meanwhile, the Government has said all infrastructural projects being conducted will be completed on time in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision of achieving an empowered, upper-middle-income society by 2030.
“With the successful completion of this project (Trabablas Interchange), which was once a symbol of traffic jams and gridlocks in Harare, we are one step closer to achieving His Excellency, President Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s vision of an empowered, upper-middle-income society in Zimbabwe by 2030,” Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Advocate Felix Mhona said.
“I would want to reiterate the commitment of my Ministry to the continuous development of our infrastructure to attain this vision. We shall strive to ensure that our roads, railroads, inland waterways, airports, and other critical infrastructure meet world-class standards to facilitate national development.
“With this development, we have been emboldened and galvanised to sustain the pace as we move forward with enthusiasm and determination, with the great hope of doing more to deliver a more prosperous Zimbabwe, where urban mobility and transit facilitation from one end of the conurbation to the other should not be a nightmare.”
