The City of Harare has attributed the rise in congestion levels in the Central Business District, particularly during morning and evening peak periods, to buses and commuter omnibuses picking up and dropping off passengers at undesignated points.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 22, Town Clerk Phakamile Mabhena Moyo reminded stakeholders that such activities by public passenger vehicles are strictly prohibited.
Moyo said that some kombis and buses park on the streets, blocking lanes and causing congestion. Said Moyo:
<blockquote>
In an effort to reduce congestion, Council would like to advise public transport operators along Sam Nunjoma (Second Street) that with immediate effect, they must use Coventry Road Rank and Mbare Musika.
All buses destined for Bulawayo that are illegally picking up passengers from the Showgrounds or along Samora Machel Avenue must use Mbare Musika and Coventry Road Bus Rank.
</blockquote>
Moyo also said Market Square, Charge Office, Copacabana, S. Muzenda (4th Street), and Rezende North are the primary commuter omnibus termini designated for use by registered public transport operators. He added:
<blockquote>
All the picking up and dropping points that were established by ZUPCO during the COVID era are no longer operational.
All registered and licenced operators and Commuter Omnibus Associations are being advised to revert to their original operating termini as per permits issued by City of Harare.
Public passenger vehicles are expected to be registered by the relevant authorities that include City of Harare and Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development. The permits issued are clear on the ranks, routes and time-tables to be used.
Given the above, the City of Harare wishes to inform residents, public transport operators and stakeholders that we have launched a massive enforcement operation to rid the city of congestion.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

The City of Harare is trying to reduce traffic jams in the CBD by cracking down on rogue kombi operators. These operators are illegally picking up and dropping off passengers, blocking lanes and causing congestion. The Town Clerk said that kombis and buses must use designated ranks and termini to operate. All registered public transport operators are advised to follow the rules and revert to their original operating termini. The City of Harare has launched an enforcement operation to control the congestion. Residents and stakeholders are urged to comply with the regulations to ease traffic congestion in the city.

Crackdown On Rogue Kombi Operators To Ease Traffic Congestion In Harare CBD

Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Felix Mhona said the government is exploring a project to introduce tram systems in major Zimbabwean cities as a long-term solution to address traffic congestion.
Trams are electric-powered streetcars running on fixed rail tracks, providing an efficient urban transit option. 
During a recent question-and-answer session in the National Assembly, Mhona said tram systems will provide a more effective public transportation infrastructure for commuters. He said (via <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/government-mulls-trams-as-part-of-bold-plan-to-tame-traffic-chaos/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>):
<blockquote>
As Government and Public Works that work with the local authorities, they oversee urban transport systems to provide efficient transport. Right now, we have plans to ensure that we get bigger buses to provide transport to the people.
So, our long-term plan is to provide trams that are like small trains. We have the railway lines, that will provide transport to people in Mabvuku, Norton and Chitungwiza.
This will be easy for people who may want to leave their vehicles and use those public transport systems. So, that plan is not a very long-term plan. It will be used very soon.
</blockquote>
However, Mhona did not provide details on the feasibility and modalities of implementing the tram system in Zimbabwe.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwe is thinking about adding trams in big cities to help with traffic jams. Trams are like small trains that run on electric power. The government wants to improve public transportation with trams. Minister Mhona mentioned plans to have trams in Mabvuku, Norton, and Chitungwiza. This will make it easier for people to leave their cars and use public transportation. But, they didn't say how they will make this happen yet. Trams could be a solution to the traffic problems faced by Zimbabwean cities.

Zimbabwe Considers Trams As A Solution To Urban Traffic Woes

The rehabilitation of some roads in Harare for the 44th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government Summit has resulted in congestion and traffic chaos in the capital.
Harare Mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume, said he will seek an urgent meeting with the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Felix Mhona, to address the traffic congestion.
Mafume said the rehabilitation of roads has heavily affected people living in areas like Harare West where the roads that lead to the New Parliament building in Mt Hampden are situated. Said Mafume:
<blockquote>
We need to urgently address this issue with the Minister of Transport. The works on the city centre roads and those leading to the new Parliament have worsened the situation.
We had been promised that upgrading of Julius Nyerere would take just three weeks but now it’s more than two months.
People are spending 4 hours going to work and another 4 hours going back home. Many are failing to get to the airport on time, some are missing important engagements.
The traffic situation is terrible, something has to be done. The residents are suffering.
</blockquote>
Mafume said he might also seek an audience with the companies doing the road rehabilitation for them to state their timelines.
At least 40 greater roads in and around the city have been lined up for the rehabilitation exercise.
The roads where the ministry shall apply asphaltic concrete overlay includes Samora Machel (Jaggers to Kuwadzana Roundabout), Dieppe roundabout, Glenara/Samora junction, Glenara/ED Mnangagwa Road, Chiremba (through Braeside), Robert Mugabe/Abdel Gamal Nasser, Josiah Tongogara, Harare Drive roundabout Jaggers, Lomagundi Road (selected sections), Simon Muzenda Street/Robert Mugabe junction to Tongogara Road, and Simon Muzenda Street/Robert Mugabe junction to Tongogara Road.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Harare Mayor Seeks To Engage Transport Minister Over Traffic Congestion

The number of registered motor vehicles in Zimbabwe continues to rise, with the country having nearly 1.5 million registered motor vehicles as of 31 December 2022.
This is contained in a transport statistics report released on 17 April 2023 by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat).
The report covers the 2018-2022 period. Presenting the report, Zimstat director-general, Taguma Mahonde said:
<blockquote>
As of 31st December 2022, there were 1,467,955 registered motor vehicles in Zimbabwe, resulting in a percentage increase of 1.2 percent when compared to 1,449,973 vehicles registered as of 30th September 2022.
A year-on-year comparison shows the stock of registered vehicles in the country, increasing by 6.9 percent from 1,373,431 as at 31st December 2021 to 1,467,955 as at 31st December 2022.
</blockquote>
Light motor vehicles accounted for 80.6 percent of registered motor vehicles in the country as of 31 December 2022.
Zimstat compiled the 2018-2022 Transport Statistics report using administrative data obtained from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Central Vehicle Registry (CVR), Zimbabwe Republic Police Headquarters (ZRP), Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) and the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ).
Over the past few years, traffic congestion has almost become the norm mainly in urban areas and the traffic jams have been attributed to an increase in the number of cars on the country’s roads.
However, some observers say the country’s regional trunk and primary roads were built in the 1960s and 1970s and most of them have exceeded their 20-year design life.
As such, the infrastructure hasn’t been keeping pace with the exponential growth in traffic volume and this has resulted in congestion.
In 2021, <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/05/19/govt-approves-measures-to-tackle-traffic-congestion/">Cabinet approved the recommendations that were made by the inter-ministerial committee set up a week ago to tackle road congestion in urban areas</a>, particularly in Harare Metropolitan Province.
The measures included working on the seriously congested Mbudzi Roundabout in south Harare and the importation of 667 buses to boost the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) fleet, and providing dedicated bus lanes and renovating terminuses.
It will also entail said eliminating the pirate kombis and mushikashika, repairing urgently critical non-functioning traffic lights, improving traffic control at congested junctions, repairing road surfaces at junctions and putting in kerbs to prevent U-turns.
More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwe Has Nearly 1.5 Million Registered Vehicles

The Zimbabwe Republic Police and the City of Harare on Wednesday, 12 April launched joint operations to curb traffic congestion at all major intersections during peak hours.
This will involve the full-time deployment of police officers at intersections with faulty traffic signals as a clampdown on Mushikashika (pirate taxis) and restoration of order at bus terminuses in the CBD.
A statement issued by the Office of the President and Cabinet on 12 April 2023 titled “PUBLIC OUTCRY OVER TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND RECKLESS DRIVING”, reads:
<blockquote>
The Secretary of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan Province, Mr. Tafadzwa Muguti today held a meeting with all Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies involved in roads administration and traffic law enforcement.
The meeting follows numerous complaints from residents over frustrating traffic jams and reckless drivers who tend to drive on pavements and oncoming traffic.
There is a standing cabinet directive on the Decongestion of the City of Harare. Please be advised that guided by the standing guidelines of the Inter-Ministerial committee the Secretary of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution has herein directed the following be implemented immediately in Harare Metropolitan Province in order to address the ongoing challenges on our roads;
1. All commuter omnibus operators to get a valid rank permit that will allow them to operate from their designated bus ranks and within operational times. The City of Harare will publish the designated official bus termini in the City. All passengers ought to respect and board their buses from these designated points;
2. A digital database of all commuter omnibus operators is to be implemented as part of the Local Authority Digital System (LADS). This will include digital payments collections of fines and fees whilst the Zimbabwe Republic Police shall utilise the system to verify the roadworthiness of vehicles, outstanding warrants on drivers, outstanding tickets and any other listed offences of drivers. Phase two shall include all other motorists;
3. All unlicensed and unroadworthy vehicles to be impounded and compliance protocols to be enforced at operator’s cost. This includes those operating with yellow plates and mushikashika;
4. All drivers guilty of reckless and dangerous driving are to be arrested on the spot and taken to court within the statutory 48 Hrs. This includes those driving on oncoming traffic, driving on pavements and those who deliberately create additional lanes by encroaching cycle tracks and pedestrian walkways;
5. All vehicles which have fitted extra lighting that is not permitted by the law shall have their vehicles impounded. These include those who have installed blue, red, green or yellow security and emergency reserved lights illegally on their vehicles.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police and the City of Harare shall from today launch joint operations to curb traffic jams at all major intersections during peak hours, whilst intersections with faulty traffic signals shall have full-time deployments.
We shall continue to engage all stakeholders to ensure that we promote a trafficable and safe environment for our citizens.
This will include redesigning our entire traffic system in the City of Harare in order to support the ever-growing vehicle population.
Harare Metropolitan Province has a Zero Tolerance Policy on Lawlessness and Corruption. We urge all drivers to please respect the traffic laws of Zimbabwe and other motorists so as to avoid arrest and further inconveniences.
Please stand guided accordingly.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZRP, City Of Harare Launch Joint Operation To Curb Traffic Congestion

Police have warned motorists travelling along the Harare-Bulawayo highway that the road has been blocked by a petrol-laden haulage truck trailer near Karina fuel service station in Norton.
In a statement, ZRP has advised motorists to use alternative routes and the diversion roads created in order to clear the blockage. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
The ZRP reports a road traffic in On Christcident which occurred on 25/12/22 at around 0745 hours at the 39 km peg along Harare –Bulawayo Road, Near Karina Garage Norton.
The second trailer of a petrol tanker, with 24 000 litres of petrol, unhooked leading to road blockage.
The Police, Fire Brigade, Vehicle Examination Department and Environmental Management Agency are at the scene clearing the road.
Motorists travelling along Bulawayo-Harare towards Norton, are advised to use alternative routes and the diversion roads created in order to clear the blockage.
Drivers are urged to cooperate with police officers controlling traffic at the scene as movements are slow.
</blockquote>

Petrol-laden Fuel Tanker Blocks Harare-Bulawayo Highway On Christmas Day

Traffic congestion at Beitbridge Border Post, which is common during the Christmas and New Year holidays, will soon be a thing of the past, a senior immigration official has said.
The Beitbridge Border Post is currently being modernised at a cost of US$300 million, with key infrastructure due for completion by November 2022.
Speaking in an interview with <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/congestion-at-beitbridge-border-will-be-history">The Sunday Mail’s</a> Tanyaradzwa Rusike, Chief Immigration Officer, Respect Gono, said the renovations will ease congestion at the border and speed up the roll-out of the one-stop border post concept between Zimbabwe and South Africa. She said:
<blockquote>
Renovation of the border post itself should be complete by November 20, 2022.
In other words, phase three, which includes the passenger terminal, will be completed by the end of this month, meaning the border will be available for full utilisation by travellers for this festive season.
However, the whole project should be completed by the end of May 2023. This includes accommodation for staff and other aspects.
Once the renovation programme is completed, we indeed expect congestion to be a thing of the past, because the border upgrades ensure separation of traffic, which results in the fast and efficient movement of people and goods.
Travellers will be pleased to know that things are continuing to get better at the border.
In that regard, we expect that the situation will further improve on completion of the pedestrian and light vehicles terminal by the end of November 2022.
Proper signage has assisted in the smooth flow of persons and processes.
An automated traffic control system, which is now in place, also ensures efficiency and orderliness.
</blockquote>
Gono revealed that from January to September 2022, they had 2 012 559 entries and 1 463 321 exits, giving a total of 3 475 880 who passed through the border this year.
She said that at peak, such as the forthcoming festive season, they are expecting to handle between 30 000 to 35 000 per day.
Gono expressed confidence that border authorities will be able to handle the huge numbers without congestion.

"Congestion At Beitbridge Border Will Soon Be History"

The Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trusts (ZNOART) has suggested possible solutions to the problem of traffic congestion in Harare.
ZNOART proposed three possible solutions to the problem namely, hiking parking fees in the Central Business District (CBD), erecting toll gates on all of Harare’s feeder roads, and redesigning the roads into the CBD. ZNOART said:
<blockquote>
Harare should either hike parking fees in the CBD. Whoever can afford will drive through town and those who can’t afford will park in the Avenues, Mbudzi, Ruwa, Norton or commute into town.
Put tollgates into roads leading into Harare CBD. One of two things will happen; either the volume of traffic will go down or the City of Harare will raise so much money. Potholes will be a distant memory if the money is put to good use.
Redesigning the roads into the CBD. Here we are now talking about a move away from the grid-lock design to overpasses and offramps together with skywalks and sky-driveways.
This will be a major structural overhaul that will create loads of jobs.
</blockquote>
Traffic congestion has become a huge problem in Harare and the situation deteriorates even further when it is raining.
On Friday last week, Harare City Council issued a travel advisory to motorists advising them to avoid travelling through the CBD, if possible, due to massive congestion.
In October, the Government said it will implement measures to deal with congestion, among them repair of street lights along major trunk roads, repair and upgrading of traffic lights and signals at major junctions, as well as installation of new traffic signals.
<h4>More: <a href="https://harare.opencouncil.co.zw/hike-parking-fees-to-end-congestion/">Open Council</a></h4>

Harare Urged To Hike Parking Fees To End Traffic Congestion

Statement by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
<blockquote>
<hr/>
ZIMBABWE REPUBLIC POLICE’S RESPONSE TO HERALD ARTICLE TITLED ‘COUNCIL BLAMES POLICE FOR CONGESTION’
Following the setting up of a Cabinet Technical Committee to decongest the City of Harare’s roads, the Zimbabwe Republic Police is jointly deploying Police and Municipal Security at 45 intersections.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has taken note of a statement attributed to City of Harare on the causes of congestion in the City.
However, the Zimbabwe Republic Police states that there are a number of factors that are contributing to the congestion currently being experienced in Harare.
These include the volume of traffic, poor road infrastructure, non-functional traffic lights, potholes that have remained for a long time without being attended to, trench repairs which are blocking some lanes, numerous vehicles broken down on the roads and in the process hinder the smooth flow of traffic.
Some lorries are openly frequenting the Central Business District in clear violation of the City By-Laws.
On the other hand, vehicle owners are also taking longer to remove broken down cars from the roads with some parked in the centre of the road.
In most cases, Police have had to move in and force the vehicle owners to remove the broken cars.
The Police believe that it is not a question of blame game, but the need to re-plan the state of the roads and general traffic management in Central Business Districts and all roads leading to major towns.
There are a lot of issues on congestion that needs to be tackled holistically by all relevant stakeholders.
Motorists are even making the decongestion efforts worse by creating third or fourth imaginary lanes while totally disregarding road rules and regulations.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has had to deploy officers on road junctions, non-functional robots in the Central Business District, to ensure law and order exists.
Above all Police has received complaints of motorists along Chiremba-Epworth Road, Seke and Dieppe Junction, Kirkman Road-Harare Drive, Mabvuku turn-off and Chikurubi-Arcturus Road, who are openly driving dangerously and even dare challenge other motorists to move out of the way yet they will be moving in the wrong lane and against the flow of traffic.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has held meetings with City of Harare officials on the traffic situation and how to work together to manage the situation.
The proliferation of undesignated pick up points in the Central Business District, operations of mushika shika vehicles and the conduct of transporters at Mbudzi Roundabout, call for enhanced greater efforts to change the attitude and mindset of Zimbabweans on the roads.
The current Cabinet efforts to integrate all stakeholders in managing the decongestion process will go a long way in dealing with the chaos currently seen in Harare during peak hours.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police will ensure that the Government’s efforts to provide safety and smooth traffic movement on the roads are implemented without fear or favour.</blockquote>

Police Respond To Traffic Congestion Blame By Council {Full Statement}

Harare City Council on Wednesday claimed that police roadblocks caused traffic congestion across the city, saying they should be removed.
Posting on Twitter, the local authority singled out the Mbudzi roundabout as an example where a police roadblock was causing congestion along the busy Simon Mazorodze Road. The council said:
<blockquote>Council has requested ZRP to remove its roadblock just after Mbudzi roundabout because it is causing congestion at the busy traffic circle.</blockquote>
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi could not be drawn into the matter yesterday. He said:
<blockquote>I am not aware of the statement issued by the council.</blockquote>
Cabinet recently established an inter-ministerial committee to tackle the congestion on many city roads.
The inter-ministerial committee recommended the elimination of pirate kombis and mushikashika, repairing urgently critical non-functioning traffic lights, improving traffic control at congested junctions, repairing road surfaces at junctions and putting in kerbs to prevent U-turns.
The government said it plans to import 667 buses to boost the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) fleet and providing dedicated bus lanes to curb traffic congestion.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/council-blames-police-roadblocks-for-congestion/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Herald</a></h4>

Council Blames Police Roadblocks For Traffic Congestion

Motorists endured massive traffic jams leading into Harare on Monday as soldiers and police reportedly turned vehicles back.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared Monday 15 June 2020 a national day of prayer and fasting, but officials said it is not a holiday.
The video below was shared on Twitter by <a href="https://twitter.com/APAZimbabwe/status/1272458679409946624" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">APA Zimbabwe</a>.
<div class="wp-video" style="width: 640px;">
<video class="wp-video-shortcode" controls="controls" height="352" id="video-170185-1" preload="metadata" width="640"><source src="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Congestion.mp4?_=1" type="video/mp4"/><a href="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Congestion.mp4">https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Congestion.mp4</a></video></div>

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