Suburban
Borrowdale residents are petitioning council for more humps as they fear the rainy season and festive season will come with more accidents as there are several reckless drivers on the roads.
Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter
The residents are seeking approval from council to build speed humps along Gaydon Road and along Domboshava Road. According to the residents, the two roads have several blind spots which need speed humps as a matter of urgency to prevent reckless drivers from speeding.
“Regrettably with the rainy season approaching, we will again be witnessing fatal accidents at the Gaydon/Warwick Roads junction bridge unless humps are constructed at the Gaydon Road bend,” a resident said.
“We need big humps along Gaydon Road, about 1km from the roundabout approaching the valley, where there is that stream. We also need humps on the other side coming from the western side approaching the same stream. We have witnessed a lot of accidents and lives have been lost for a very long time,” said another resident.
Borrowdale Ratepayers and Residents Association (BRRA) committee member Mrs Pat Townsend advised residents that they have to petition for speed humps through the City of Harare and the municipality will approve as it did on the Hogerty Hill speed humps.
“Humps have to be petitioned for and presented to COH for consideration. Can you start that process then take it from there?” said Mrs Townsend.
Other residents who are demanding speed humps along Domboshava Road questioned how long it took for the Hogerty Hill humps as their appeal seems to be taking way longer to be approved.
“How long did it take to have these humps constructed along the bottom of Hogerty Hill because it’s been five months since I applied for the speed humps to be constructed along the Philadelphia School and Winchendon shops stretch area along Domboshava Road, that area is a serious black spot. I have been visiting the City of Harare at Cleveland House over and over again to confirm if our petition has been taken into consideration but still no answer. They will refer you to different offices and the next thing you will hear is that the person who is in charge of these projects is not around,” said a resident.
Residents said if all drivers were cautious and observed road signs, rules and regulations there would be no need for some of these controls.
“It would be different if the roads and drivers were like in other countries. Sadly, there are too many vehicles and the roads can’t cope, drivers have no consideration, no manners, hence the need for some sort of control on these roads like Domboshawa Road. We have spent hours on these roads at accident scenes. If the police can’t be there to control bad driving practices, humps and rumble strips aren’t allowed, what is left to try and sort out the problems being experienced,” observed another resident.
Concerned residents called for oneness among the different communities in Ward 18 as they work on common goals.
“No one is coming to save us, and no one is going to be our hero. It would be good if citizens see a problem, they proactively tackle it, what a wonderful and exemplary community Ward 18 would be if we took to action and less words, it begins with us,” said a resident.
“I have also previously recommended rumble strips and am surprised these are not allowed. They are used approaching toll gates not only in Zimbabwe but other countries. For now, what is urgently required on Gaydon Road are regulatory and danger signs as drivers approach the bridge from either end. Signs should warn drivers to slow down, expect a sharp turn and narrow bridge. Surely those signs can be erected within a day,” the discussion also heard.
In 2018, Ward 18 residents and some corporate ratepayers in the ward working successfully lobbied the City of Harare for the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Harare Drive and Gaydon Road.
A lot of discussions were held about the best way to ensure smooth flow of traffic at the intersection with some suggesting the installation of traffic lights while others proposed the construction of a roundabout.
Eventually it was the roundabout option which got the thumbs up with residents, Bamazonke and the rest of the community all agreeing a roundabout would improve the daily flow of traffic especially for parents taking their little kids to and from school.
According to the BRRA about 47 people sent emails to the town engineer giving valid reasons why the circle was necessary.
Their persistence and that of the then Councillor Mr Allan Markham working closely with the BRRA finally brought about the roundabout in 2018.
Mr Kelvin Motsi, who at the time was a BRRA committee member, said the completion of the roundabout was a testimony of what a community can achieve by working together.
Mr Motsi commended the contactors for doing a splendid job.
“This is a true show of what a community working together and pushing functional projects can yield. BRRA would like to urge all residents to keep supporting and engaging to ensure we continue progressive development in our Ward18,” he said.
“Bitumen World have shown their expertise and professionalism on this project. This must surely be the best designed and laid out roundabout in Zimbabwe and we should all take our hats off to their management and staff. To all residents let’s remember to exercise safety on our new road, do not speed, speed kills,” said Mr Motsi.
