Authorities bow down to pressure to remove erected...

Authorities bow down to pressure to remove erected Seke Rd highway humps

Long queues at Seke Road roadblocks – Zimbabwe Situation

Gilbert Munetsi

Authorities within the Transport and Infrastructural Development Ministry have bowed down to pressure from Chitungwiza motorists who have rebuked the erection of two humps along Seke Road.

The humps were last week put up on either side of the road next to a military barracks entrance, but were, at the time of going to press being removed.

There has not been an explanation for their existence, despite the spot not having many people crossing from one end to the other.

The humps erection, the road users argued, was done without consultation and led to heavy congestion along the highway particularly during rush and peak hours. There have also been reports of freak accidents around the area over the past week.

Early in the week, the Member of Parliament for Chitungwiza South constituency, Hon Maxwell Mavhunga, penned an open letter to Transport Minister Felix Mhona in which he questioned the logic of having the humps along a highway:

“As a representative of Chitungwiza residents, we note with disdain and ridicule the unnecessary erection of a speed hump along Seke Road in front of a military gate.

“The speed hump was not well thought out and is now causing unnecessary congestion along Seke Road, especially during peak hours.

“The ‘mischief’ to be treated by the speed hump cannot be comprehended by any right thinking citizen unless it is meant to spruce up egos of certain individuals in positions of authority.

“There is no heavy pedestrian movement. In fact, it is a restricted area for ordinary civilians.

“This area is now prone to accidents as the hump is on a highway.

“We therefore demand that this hump be removed forthwith as there are enough pothole problems on this road.

“The undesirable consequence is that motor vehicles are now creating more lanes off the road to beat the congestion. If anything, the only area desiring a speed hump is adjacent to Koala Park.

“Lastly, we implore on authorities to implement decisions after a well thought out process because these arbitrary and dictatorial tendencies are retrogressive and counter-productive,” MP Mavhunga wrote.

A frequent user of the road, Vincent Baris, said it was imperative to consult when decisions such as that of erection of humps on a critical route are involved.

“What’s the logic of erecting a hump and removing it within a week, is that not a waste tax payers’ money?

“Had they consulted stakeholders prior, possibly a pedestrian flyover would have been erected, thereby providing a sustainable solution to those crossing the main road from one end to the other. Unfortunately, stakeholders are viewed as snake-holders by most of our authorities,” he said.