According
to
the State
of
Service
Delivery
in
Harare report
by
the
Harare
Residents’
Trust
(HRT),
the
majority
of
roads
in
high-density
suburbs
are
riddled
with
potholes,
while
those
in
the
central
business
district
lack
proper
markings,
contributing
to
daily
congestion
and
accidents.
“The
majority
of
the
roads
in
Harare’s
high-density
residential
suburbs
are
in
bad
shape,
with
potholes
available
everywhere,”
the
report
stated.
The
report
highlighted
stark
inequalities
in
road
maintenance.
While
high-density
suburbs
like
Mbare,
Dzivarasekwa
Extension
and
Glen
Norah
endure
pothole-ridden
and
dusty
streets,
low-density
areas
fare
better,
often
because
residents
use
their
personal
resources
to
patch
roads.
Roads
leading
to
the
homes
of
political
and
business
elites
also
receive
more
attention.
“In
Mbare,
residents
are
disgruntled
by
the
poor
state
of
their
streets.
Vehicles
passing
by
leave
a
trail
of
dust
filling
their
homes.
This
has
forced
many
households
to
keep
their
windows
and
doors
closed
most
of
the
time.
If
not
closed,
sofas
and
floors
will
be
emitting
dust.
Due
to
the
dust
emissions,
residents
now
fear
contracting
diseases,”
the
report
said.
Key
routes
have
become
bottlenecks.
Willowvale
Road
is
now
considered
dangerous,
with
congestion
during
peak
hours.
Kirkman
Drive,
which
links
western
suburbs
to
the
city,
was
described
as
a
“perpetual
problem”
due
to
its
narrow
lanes
and
excessive
potholes.
The
Dzivarasekwa
Extension
road
to
Glaudina
was
flagged
as
another
hotspot.
“Kombis
now
drop
off
passengers
early
to
avoid
damaging
their
vehicles.
With
the
rains
coming,
residents
will
face
serious
transport
challenges,”
the
HRT
warned.
Particular
criticism
was
directed
at
the
Central
Mechanical
Equipment
Department
(CMED),
which
resurfaced
Borshoff
Drive
in
2022.
Despite
being
completed
only
three
years
ago,
the
road
has
already
deteriorated.
“The
CMED
used
public
funds,
but
the
job
was
substandard.
This
is
wasteful
expenditure,
yet
no
one
has
been
held
accountable,”
the
watchdog
said.
In
the
CBD,
faded
or
missing
road
markings
were
identified
as
a
major
contributor
to
congestion.
Parking
bays
are
often
unmarked
or
confusingly
lined,
creating
further
chaos.
The
HRT
has
called
for
an
overhaul
of
Harare’s
road
management
strategy,
urging
the
city
to
invest
in
resurfacing,
proper
drainage,
and
transparent
contracting.
“City
roads
must
be
maintained
and
properly
marked
to
ensure
safety
and
reduce
congestion,”
the
report
said.