If you’ve been paying attention it is becoming almost impossible to travel around the Harare Central Business District (CBD) due to insane traffic congestion.  You get stuck in traffic sometimes over two hours, end up late for everything.

Workers are losing hours of productive time in jams resonate with waking up a bit earlier than usual to catch up with working time. The problem is so evident that potential Chinese investors proposed placing a helipad on top of the Charter House building to avoid the mess.

Fuel Shortages Could Be A Quick Fix – Zim Minister

Many have questioned why Harare is in such a mess, and Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has offered an answer which is comic in the least. According to the Minister,  the availability of fuel is the problem.

She says “…the easing of the lockdown measures, the increased availability of fuel on the local market, and increased economic activity, has seen the number of cars on our roads increase and this has resulted in vehicle traffic congestion.”

Researchers Tatenda Mbara and Noleen Pisa, however, believe that Harare’s congestion woes are caused by the city’s 4 000 km surfaced road network system which is clearly failing to cope with the increasing number of vehicles in the city.

   “Congestion is compounded by small vehicles which are used as modes of public transport.”

Others like Maunder attribute the problem to the growth of commuter omnibuses in the city center.

“As there are no official areas for the vehicles to load with passengers, certain roads are frequently blocked with commuter omnibuses waiting to load with passengers.”

Why Traffic Jams Are Problematic

According to Shakerod Munuhwa, the effects of traffic congestion include;

• Time-consumption.
• pollution.
• Stress.
• Decreased productivity.

Studies have shown that slower-moving traffic emits more pollution than those at freeway speeds. In case your boss hadn’t hammered it in. Lateness at work negatively affects productivity and workflow which decreases productivity.

The Government’s Response

The Zimbabwean government has been forced to start acting on traffic congestion in Harare and the Publicity Minister Monica Mutsvangwa revealed to journalists that new traffic control measures will be implemented at identified junctions to alleviate congestion.

“Mbudzi Roundabout is one of the most chaotic roundabouts in the country where immediate decisive action needs to be taken,” she said.

The Minister told us that roads would be widened.

“There will be joint operations between Municipal Traffic Police and ZRP at the intersection. Municipal Traffic Police will be trained on how they will operate in the controlling of traffic”

But researchers like Mbara disagree and think that long-term investment is the way to go.

“sustainable transport in the city can be achieved through investment in mass transit systems, improvements in road infrastructure and building.”