The City of Harare is having a rough time, and its roads are feeling the pinch. With no tar to be found, the city’s workers are resorting to patching potholes with soil and rubble – because who needs asphalt when you’ve got dirt, right?
It turns out that Harare’s accounts are being garnished, and the city can’t afford to buy tar. Mayor Jacob Mafume is fed up with the situation, and rightly so. “We’re using dust to patch potholes, and it’s a mess,” he says. The city’s procurement department is blaming the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) for slow approvals, but some councillors think there’s more to it.
Harare Councillor Denford Ngadziore accuses city officials of dishonesty, claiming they have no problem buying luxury perks like vehicles. “There’s a cartel or a system that needs to be broken,” he says. Until then, Harare’s roads will continue to deteriorate.
Meanwhile, the city is cracking down on businesses that don’t pay their water bills. It’s a case of “pay up or get cut off.” But when it comes to fixing roads, suddenly there’s no money. Priorities, anyone?
Will the city manage to fix its roads and get its finances in order? For now, residents will just have to navigate the potholes and dust.
Mayor Mafume’s frustration is palpable. “We’re embarrassed by the state of our roads,” he says. Let’s hope someone listens and finds a solution soon.
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