Govt Reveals Plans To Curb Traffic Congestion

By Mellisa Gombe

Government has approved measures for the elimination of congestion and the installation of proper street lights in the country’s urban areas mostly in Harare where traffic jams are now a menace, Nhau has learnt.

During a post-Cabinet briefing with the media on Tuesday, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said government’s top priority on the list was Harare Metropolitan Province as it is the worst affected by congestion.

“As you might recall Cabinet, at its sitting of 11 May 2021, resolved to take deliberate measures to decongest urban centres in the wake of the obtaining traffic chaos, particularly in Harare and its environs.

“The nation is advised that whilst the programme will be rolled out countrywide, top on the priority list is Harare Metropolitan Province as it is the worst affected in this regard. To this end, the Inter-Ministerial Committee has drawn up proposed short-term measures to be undertaken to redress the situation.”

Minister Mutsvangwa said the chaotic jams were going to be dealt with countrywide and government had plans to decongest urban centres by creating lanes for buses as well as erecting prohibitive signs.

“New traffic control measures will be implemented at identified junctions to alleviate congestion.

“On traffic control infrastructure, Cabinet was informed that dedicated bus lanes to ensure preferential treatment of buses, clear carriageway markings for roads and parking bays, erection of no stopping and no u-turn signs, stop signs, give way signs and load restrictions will be marked at appropriate places; and construction of non-mountable kerbing/ jersey barriers would be made at junctions and other critical areas to avoid u-turns or driving over islands.”

“The roads would be repaired at identified junctions. The roads would be widened to allow at least 2 lanes in one direction,” she said.

Despite blaming the increased availability of fuel on the market as the main cause of traffic jams last week, government realized that most traffic lights in Harare were not working thus elevating the problem.

The bottleneck has also contributed towards congestion in the sunshine city coupled with bad driving conduct exhibited by errant pirate taxi drivers and government is willing to nip the situation in the bud.

“Traffic lights at the following junctions, will be repaired within one month:- Samora Machel/Enterprise; Seke/Dieppe; Glenara/Chiremba; Simon Mazorodze/Paisely; Rotten Row/Jason Moyo; Julius Nyerere/Kenneth Kaunda; Borrowdale/Harare Drive; and Harare/ E.D. Mnangagwa. New traffic control measures will be implemented at identified junctions to alleviate congestion,” she said. Nhau/Indaba