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Dorcas Mhungu Mutare Correspondent
Haulage truck drivers have turned Dawson Street in the low-density suburb of Yeovil in Mutare into an escape route, as they avoid a weighbridge where cargo trucks are checked for compliance.

Ironically, Dawson Street is situated right behind the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) and is not designed to withstand the weight of these long-haul cargo carriers.

Dawson Street is now in a sorry state, with most of its tar worn-out as the weight of the huge trucks takes its toll.

It has become an escape route for truck drivers coming from Mozambique, including timber trucks from Manicaland plantations.

Excessive wear has since reduced it to a dirt road, with the drowning noise from trucks depriving residents of the tranquillity that used to prevail in the suburb.

Mr Raus Chimwala, a VID official, said long distance haulage trucks must follow designated routes.

“If they (truck drivers) are not using that route, they are doing so for their own reasons. They are damaging that road. The city by-laws are there. The Road Traffic Act is there and the law enforcers plus council must take action to stop them,” Mr Chimwala said.

He said roads such as Dawson are designed to handle trucks with a maximum load of eight tonnes.

Mutare City Council spokesman Mr Spren Mutiwi said truck drivers were not allowed to use roads in residential suburbs.

“There is a designated route and Dawson Street is not part of it. Truckers are using it unlawfully. As a local authority, we exist for the residents, but the residents must also take action. It is also our duty as a local authority, but the police must play their part to complement our efforts, too,” he said.

According to Mr Mutiwi, the only time Dawson Street was used by trucks and buses was during the rehabilitation of the Christmas Pass section of the highway, which was a long time ago.

Manicaland province police spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakowa said the police were not aware that long-distance haulage trucks were using Dawson Street illegally.

He said: “We cannot comment until we establish that this is indeed happening. We must first check before we can act.”

Mr Silas Sharai, a resident from the affected suburb, said the illegal route could be used as a conduit to transport contraband.

“There is a lot of smuggling going on and some of these drivers would be carrying private goods for their customers and that is why they avoid the weighbridge. They will be overloaded.”

It was disappointing, he said. that Dawson Street has turned into some sort of “trade corridor”.