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Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
Harare’s ambitious promise of achieving world-class city status by 2025 is in tatters since the new year has been ushered in with nothing to show that the capital is anywhere near being a world-class city.
The opposition-led City Council, which once rallied citizens with the mantra of a modern, clean and efficient urban environment, is now facing harsh criticism for failing to deliver on basic services.
Residents have expressed frustration over deteriorating service delivery, citing mounting issues such as uncollected garbage, erratic water supply, crumbling roads, and inadequate street lighting. Far from the envisioned world-class standards, Harare appears to be sinking deeper into urban decay.
In 2018, the council’s leadership announced its ambitious vision of transforming Harare into a beacon of modern urban living by 2025.
The blueprint included improved waste management systems, consistent potable water supplies, upgraded road infrastructure and a smart urban transport system.
However, seven years later, progress has been scant.
“We were promised a city we could all be proud of, but it is a nightmare now. Refuse goes uncollected for weeks, and potholes have turned roads into death traps,” lamented Tafadzwa Moyo, a resident of the high-density suburb of Mbare.
One of the most glaring failures has been waste management. Heaps of garbage are now a common sight across the city, posing serious health risks.
Reports indicate that the city’s refuse trucks are frequently grounded due to poor maintenance, while budget constraints have stalled the procurement of new vehicles.
Water provision, a long-standing challenge, has worsened. Many households receive water only a few days a week, forcing residents to rely on unsafe boreholes.
The opposition-led council blame obsolete water infrastructure and a lack of central Government support as the main hurdles.
The city’s road network, once a point of pride, is now riddled with potholes, contributing to increased road accidents.
Despite promises of regular maintenance and upgrades, little has been done to address this critical issue.
Street lighting is virtually non-existent in many areas, plunging neighborhoods into darkness and increasing crime rates.
Critics have accused the opposition-led council of prioritising political battles and looting over service delivery.
Residents argue that resources meant for development projects have been mismanaged, while others blame the council’s failure to engage the central Government effectively for financial support.
“This is not about politics, it is about governance. We are tired of leaders who use excuses instead of solutions,” said a disgruntled resident.
Council officials, however, argue that their hands are tied due to limited funding and interference from the central government.
“We have faced constant sabotage in our efforts to secure funding and implement our plans,” Mayor Jacob Mafume is on record saying.
He further highlighted that the city requires over US$100 million annually to meet its operational needs, yet revenue collections remain low.
The failure to deliver on promises has left residents disillusioned and questioning the competence of their leaders.
Harare’s decline underscores the urgent need for a paradigm shift in urban governance, where leadership transcends political squabbles to prioritise the needs of its citizens.
As the council grapples with its challenges, residents can only hope that the next chapter brings real action instead of empty promises.
Online Reporter