Rains cause flooding in Harare CBD

Mutsawashe Mashandure

Herald Correspondent

The rains that fell in Harare on Thursday rendered some parts of the Central Business District (CBD) impassable, due to perennial flooding that is caused by clogged drainages.

A number of pedestrians hurrying to get to work on time had a hard time crossing some roads and intersections due to large pools of water caused by the blocked drains.

Some of the notable intersection were along Angwa Street and Robson Manyika and Robert Mugabe Streets, and Julius Nyerere and Nelson Mandela.

The pedestrians had to take extra precautions to ensure that they were not splashed by water as vehicles passed through the flooded areas.

Mr Ticklas Mugadza said most commuters reported late for work due to delays in travel times, highlighting the urgent need for infrastructure improvements in the city.

Some shop owners with shops close to some of the intersections said the flooding had affected their businesses.

“The water is everywhere, making it impossible for customers to reach my shop. We need better drainage to handle runoff water. This is becoming a regular problem,” said a shop owner Ms Providence Man’ena.

The flooding not only affected businesses but also led to severe traffic disruptions, with many motorists struggling to navigate their way on the streets.

Some motorists had nightmare experiences trying to park in some parking bays which had potholes that were filled with water especially those along Robson Manyika Street neat the intersection with Angwa street.

Harare City Council spokesperson Mr Stainely Gama admitted that there is a challenge of flooding in the city.

He said that they have a challenge in attending to the drainage problem due to the size of the city.

“The CBD is too large, and sometimes we are unaware of these issues,” he said.

“However, when people report them, we usually resolve the problems as soon as possible. We have been working on the drainage system for three months.”