Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
Herald Reporter
HARARE Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume says the City of Harare is trying to renew its oldest suburb, Mbare, through the establishment of a sports economy, revamping the bus terminuses and putting up new infrastructure.
In an interview at the City of Harare 2026 to 2030 Strategic Planning stakeholder planning consultation meeting recently, Clr Mafume said the city was there to add value and not to inconvenience people.
“We hope people will understand that we are not there to displace people, but we are there to enhance the value of the work that they do,” he said.
Clr Mafume said after initial reluctance, a lot of people are now using the new market.
“It’s a better environment, and that is the first new and massive building that has been built in Mbare since independence,” he said.
“And the occupancy is increasing, it’s a better environment to work at, and we know that when we build new things, people take time to acclimatise.
“But they do, it’s something that we are working towards, and we are trying to improve the city and deal with the various pinpoints that affect the residents.”
Cllr Mafume said the city is also discussing with Zesa on the new prepaid electricity system for street, tower and traffic lights.
“There seems to be a prepaid electricity system, and we are engaging constructively with Zesa, so it looks good on paper to say that you’ve put a prepaid meter on a tower light, on a traffic light or on a street light,” he said.
“It looks very good on paper, but it’s a policy that has ‘a cobra effect’. It has a disastrous effect on the public, it increases crime, it can cause accidents when these things are not juiced up on time.”
In all fairness, City of Harare is abusing Mbare residents, as we still have sewage all over places such as Mbare flats. By now something should have been done and people living in human conditions. If the flats are overcrowded, council should act otherwise. The same applies to Dzivaresekwa Extension, it is sewage all over, and I feel sorry and pity for the residents. The government and council should act now especially before the rainy season otherwise some of the areas will not be habitable. It is by the grace of God that we have not yet experienced disease outbreaks.