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Nicole Maturure

HARARE, the Capital City of Zimbabwe was once the vibrant and “sunshine” city.

The capital was once a bustling metropolitan, full of life and energy.

But in recent years, the infrastructure of the city has been deteriorating at an alarming rate, thanks to the increase in population and poor planning at the Town House, which has been manned by opposition councillors in the last two decades.

“The city is in desperate need of revamps, and the citizens are hopeful that due diligence will be done to restore the city to its former glory,” says an elderly resident.

Sharlene Magombedze another resident, who stays in the Avenues area, said: “We just have to make do with the deteriorating infrastructure.” Buildings that were once grand and majestic are now in need of renovation, repainting and repairs.

Shades at bus termini have been left to deteriorate and street kids taken advantage of this and now shelter at the stations.

City spokesperson Mr Innocent Ruwende attributes this to population growth and limited resources.

“Our city is the oldest, our population has been growing and this has taken a huge toll on available resources and infrastructure resulting in urban decay. We have stepped up efforts to rejuvenate the city to compete with other world class capitals and attract crucial investments,’’ he said.

“We have since launched the urban renewal programme because there is a lot of urban decay especially in the Central Business District which is driving out business to other centres.’’

But observers note that the opposition CCC-led city council has simply failed to do its job.

After a tour of various areas in and around Harare to get a clearer picture of the extent that the city has deteriorated we found out that the city was in a dire situation.

Traffic lights

It is the duty of the city council to maintain street lights, but it is clear the opposition council has totally failed in this area.

The absence of functioning traffic lights has been cited as the major cause of most of the congestion in the city.

This has left drivers at a disadvantage as deadlines are missed, accidents occur and time is lost.

A 26-year-old motorist, Tafadzwa Ganya from Warren Park suburb, said the absence of traffic lights has created an era of drivers who behave like animals as some intentionally ignore road rules to get home faster.

The police have been doing their best to control traffic at points where traffic lights no longer work and also to ensure that drivers follow the rules of the road and pedestrians are safe.

Road signs which have faded

Surely, concerning such basic service delivery, a council leading a big city like Harare is expected to do better, but there has been neglect all over.

The faded traffic signs are causing a lot of problems for motorists. The signs are difficult to read, making it difficult for drivers to know what the rules are for the road. This can lead to confusion and accidents, as drivers may not be aware of the speed limit, or other regulations.

Additionally, faded signs can be a distraction, as drivers may be trying to read them instead of focusing on the road. This can lead to dangerous situations, as drivers may not be paying attention to their surroundings.

Faded traffic signs can also lead to frustration, as drivers may not be able to understand the signs and may have to guess at what they mean.

Vendors

Vending has probably become one of the most popular things one bumps into now in the CBD with vendors making use of the small space that they find themselves to sell a few of their products.

A 36-year-old vendor, Rhoda Chitepwe claimed she had no choice but to keep selling in the CBD because that is the only way she could earn income to feed her two children.

“This is actually a crime that I am committing but what should I do my sister? I have two children who need food, who need clothes and other essentials. Staying at home will not help,” she said.

Toilets

The shortage of more public toilets has resulted in some people adopting an unusual habit of relieving themselves anywhere where they can’t be seen.

At some public places like the former ZiMEX mall, the smell speaks for itself with many indicators directed to money changers who spend the day “hustling” in the CBD.

Not only are money changers in this unusual behaviour, but even street kids are relieving using the streets as their places to sleep and as toilets.

This is making it increasingly difficult for people to walk through the CBD, as the smell is unbearable and the sight of people sleeping on the street is disheartening.

Illegal Car wash

The illegal car wash taking place in the CBD along Jason Moyo and Julius Nyerere and other places is a major problem for the area. Not only is it taking up valuable parking spots that other motorists could be using, but it is also having a negative impact on the environment.

The runoff from the car wash is polluting the local waterways and creating a hazardous environment for the local wildlife.

The business is also operating without the proper permits and licenses, which is a violation of the law. It is important that the local authorities take action to shut down this illegal car wash and ensure that the area is kept safe and clean.

 Shortage of bins

It is now no doubt that the Harare City Council is not capable of running the city’s affairs, especially when it fails to provide such simple service like a bin.

The CBD and other areas are becoming increasingly unclean due to shortage of bins. With more people frequenting these areas, the amount of waste being generated is increasing, but there are not enough bins to accommodate it.

As a result, rubbish is being left on the streets and in public spaces, creating an unpleasant and unsanitary environment.

This is a problem that needs to be addressed as soon as possible, as it is not only an eyesore, but also a health hazard.

The installation of more bins in these areas would help to reduce the amount of litter and make the environment cleaner and more pleasant for everyone.