By Correspondent
Most Councils have a habit of throwing in tasty targets in their budgets and Harare City Council is no different.
It has included a number of targets which, at face-value, appear positive and progressive but are very much wild and unrealistic.
Failing The Basic, Council Goes For The Novel
Harare has promised to install CCTV Digital systems at intersections and traffic Management system.
It stated that these will cover problem areas in places such as Glen View, Mbare and Kuwadzana.
This is most likely never going to happen as Harare is already struggling to maintain basic things like traffic lights.
At other hotspots such as Magetsi in Kuwadzana the traffic lights are rarely operating normally.
Its either one side or both sides misbehaving or not even functioning.
If installed the CCTV will only function to capture accidents in the midst of uncontrolled chaos.
Maintaining Hope Against Hope in ZINARA
In 2025 Harare received total disbursements amounting to ZWG 85.2 million from.
Of this amount, ZWG 24.496 million was allocated towards routine maintenance, while ZWG 60.7 million was was disbursed for periodic maintenance works.
This total translates to around US$3,1 million which is a far cry from the budgeted for US$9 million.
The city is essentially setting itself up for failing!
Modernising Markets, After the 14th Fire!
Harare has promised to modernise markets.
These will include upgrades at Mupedzanhamo, Kuwadzana, Glen View, and Mbare Siyaso.
However, the situation on the ground provides veritable proof that such a project is a long way off.
In August 2024 hundreds of small and medium enterprise (SME) traders lost goods valued at over US$100 000 in a mysterious blaze at Glen View complex.
It marked the 14th fire incident to hit the complex, with cumulative losses estimated at over US$3 million.
That is years that have gone by with nothing happening despite the destruction of merchandise.
For Harare to lump together various markets and promise wholesale upgrades in 2026 is a definite lie.
