Tackling Harare’s growing traffic woes

Diana Samakande

As the capital city of Harare continues to grapple with a worsening traffic crisis, residents are experiencing increasingly long commutes on key routes such as Mutare and Bulawayo roads.

The situation is particularly dire for motorists who are finding their daily journeys to work to be increasingly time-consuming, especially for those leaving home after 5:30am.

The root of the problem lies in the city’s rapid expansion into peripheral areas like Sunway City, Damofalls, Glaudina, Madokero, and Westlea, leading to a substantial uptick in population and subsequently, traffic congestion.

Highlighting the impact of poor urban planning, a local land developer suggested a need for city expansion within already developed areas, proposing the idea of building clusters on larger pieces of residential land to accommodate the growing population.

The decline of public transportation alternatives, such as the discontinued train services, has left residents of Mabvuku, Zimre, and Ruwa with limited commuting options, resulting in a surge in private vehicle ownership.

With an oversaturation of vehicles on the city’s road network, issues such as heavy traffic caused by weather conditions and accidents have become a common occurrence, especially on roads like Lomagundi, Seke Road, Mutare Road, Bulawayo Road and Samora Machel Avenue.

In light of these challenges, there is an urgent need for town planners and local government to address the traffic crisis as a top priority. Implementing an efficient public transportation system comprising buses and trains would not only alleviate the congestion on the roads but also prolong the lifespan of existing infrastructure.

By providing viable and reliable public transport options, the need for private vehicles would be lessened, thereby easing traffic congestion and improving the overall quality of transportation in the city.

To prevent the traffic situation in Harare from deteriorating further, stakeholders should work towards implementing sustainable solutions to address the city’s growing mobility challenges.