HARARE, Jan. 13 - (NewsDay Live) – Residents of Budiriro and Glen View high-density suburbs in Harare have raised concern over the poor state of local roads, with some areas having remained impassable for weeks due to persistent rains.
Zimbabwe is expected to experience tropical cyclones during the current rainy season, with the Meteorological Services Department urging communities in flood-prone areas to heed alerts issued by the Department of Civil Protection.
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network has also indicated that a weak La Niña is anticipated, likely resulting in normal to above-normal rainfall between October and March.
Research conducted by NewsDay in the two suburbs on Monday revealed that deep potholes and muddy roads are forcing motorists to drop passengers far from their homes or take longer routes to reach their destinations.
“We are grateful for the rains as they are good for our crops and help replenish underground water, but our roads need urgent attention,” said a Budiriro 5 resident identified only as Mai Makuta.
“Motorists struggle to reach our homes, and with schools reopening, we are worried about how our children will travel to and from school,” she added.
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Another resident, who requested anonymity, said the deteriorating road network was also affecting livelihoods.
“While the rains are beneficial, the state of our roads is now hurting our sources of income by making our businesses inaccessible to potential customers. We plead with authorities to urgently address our plight in Budiriro,” the resident said.
Contacted for comment, Harare city spokesperson Stanley Gama said he was awaiting a report from relevant departments.
Meanwhile, the Harare City Council has come under fire for allegedly allowing houses to be built on wetlands without proper planning, failing to construct or unclog drainage systems, and permitting illegal sewer connections, among other issues, following incidents of flash flooding in the two suburbs.
On Monday, a video circulated showing extensive flooding in Glen View 7 Extension, with residents accusing city authorities of poor planning and mismanagement, which they said poses a serious risk to lives and property.
