Uncongesting Harare: From Gridlock to Sunshine City
Harare, once my beloved city of challenge and inspiration, has lost its shine. Now, the mere thought of commuting home or even venturing into the downtown core triggers a wave of stress. The "sunshine city" has become choked by a double whammy of human and vehicular congestion.
In a previous article , I argued for high-rise buildings as a solution to our land scarcity woes due to a burgeoning population. This human traffic, however, isn't just a numbers game. It has real, tangible consequences, impacting productivity and quality of life. People spend hours battling congested roads, only to wake up at the crack of dawn to repeat the cycle. This is hardly the path to a world-class city by 2025, as the city once envisioned.
We need a multi-pronged approach to decongest Harare. Here are some ideas:
Shifting Gears:
Night Patrols: Council garbage trucks and maintenance crews currently disrupt traffic during the day. Shifting these services to nighttime would ease congestion without sacrificing efficiency.
Night Deliveries: Supermarkets and large shops contribute to temporary jams with daytime deliveries. Mandating nighttime deliveries for major CBD businesses would significantly reduce daytime traffic snarls.
Truck Movement Ban: Roads like Harare Drive were designed to bypass the CBD for trucks. However, increased truck traffic during peak hours (4:30-7:00 pm) creates chaos, particularly at Chiremba Road/Glenara Avenue. A temporary ban on truck movement from 6:30-8:00 am and 4:00-7:00 pm could offer immediate relief.
Harare Bypass Roads: Long-term solutions involve constructing comprehensive bypass roads catering to current and projected traffic volume and city growth. A planned truck route linking Beatrice, Norton, Just After Inkomo Barracks Tollgate, Mazowe, Chinamhora, between Shamva and Melfort, between Musami and Murewa, Bromley, and back to Beatrice would significantly reduce traffic passing through Harare. Flyovers at intersections with major roads like Bulawayo or Chirundu would prevent future bottlenecks.
Reshaping the Streetscape:
Road Widening: Urgent road widening is crucial. Major roads like Glenara, Chiremba, Domboshawa, and Enterprise should be dual carriageways, with wider approaches to traffic lights to eliminate bottle-necks. Re-evaluating flyovers, like the Seke Road flyover, is also necessary to improve traffic flow.
Shop Licensing: To encourage businesses to decentralize, the council could implement an exorbitant shop license fee for CBD occupants and relaxed fees for outer city locations. This would entice small businesses and vendors, who follow human traffic, to move out of the congested CBD.
Addressing Public Behavior:
Regulations: Touting, public urination, littering, and jaywalking all contribute to the chaos. The council should designate proper crossing areas and implement fines for these offenses. Public awareness campaigns coupled with strict enforcement are key.
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LED Traffic Lights with Rechargeable Batteries: Zimbabwe's frequent power cuts exacerbate traffic congestion and accidents. Installing LED traffic lights with rechargeable batteries would ensure uninterrupted traffic control even during outages.
Promoting Alternative Transportation:
Cycling: Incentives like student discounts for cycling to universities could foster a cycling culture. Intra-city tollgates on roads leading into the CBD with exemptions for cyclists and public transport could further encourage alternative modes. This, however, hinges on a robust and efficient public transport system.
Enforcement is Key:
Awareness campaigns can only go so far. Strict enforcement, with funds from fines used for law enforcement body cameras and street cameras, is essential for lasting change.
Decentralization and Development:
Ruwa, Chitungwiza, and Norton rely heavily on Harare for their needs. Government investment in these towns, attracting investors to revive closed industries, would create independent, sustainable urban centers. This would lessen the pressure on Harare's infrastructure and population.
These are just some ideas to spark discussion and action. Decongesting Harare won't be easy, but it's vital if we want our city to regain its vibrancy and livability. Let's work together to make Harare a city that inspires, not frustrates, its residents.
Founder / Executive Director Road Safe Zimbabwe Trust
11 个月Evidence has it that road widening doesn't reduce traffic congestion. In the case of Harare, this is worsened by the lack of proper land use planning.