Mandara residents raise money to fund road signs

IN A commendable community effort to seek solutions to issues affecting them, Mandara residents have contributed money to fund the installation of weight restriction signs on roads in the suburb to prohibit large haulage trucks from damaging roads in the area.

Suburban Reporter

The residents believe the weight restriction signs will empower the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the City of Harare Municipal Police to take action against drivers caught breaking the prohibition by-laws.

Residents resolved to raise the money on their own after the City of Harare provided them with the quotations stating the materials and costs involved. A notice sent to residents advised that a total of US$342 is needed to install six weight restriction signs to be put on the affected roads.

The money will be used to buy the materials and paint needed for the traffic signs.

Residents were told that the signs would basically indicate the 3-tonne weight restriction on the relevant roads because without these warnings, law enforcement agents can’t enforce the law.

Immediately after the notice was shared on the Mandara residents’ WhatsApp group, residents started making pledges of between US$5 and US$100 towards the project aimed at safeguarding their roads from further damage by the heavy trucks carrying bricks.

By Monday this week, the residents had contributed US$250 leaving a shortfall of US$92 and when one of the coordinators made a plea to residents to make contributions to get the project done, more pledges were made ranging from US$5 and US$20. On Tuesday, residents were advised that the required amount had been raised and paid to the suppliers and the City of Harare had promised to install the signs on Thursday or Friday this week. The contributions exceeded the required amount as a total of US$405 was collected with more contributions being pledged even after the target had been reached.

Former Harare East Member of the National Assembly Mr Allan Markham commended the Mandara community for the initiative.

“Congratulations on the initiative. We need to keep these small game changers rolling,” said Mr Markham.

Some residents felt the initiative was a waste of money because the truck drivers do not respect laws and there were roads where the prohibition signs were put but they disregarded them.

However, those driving the initiative were convinced the signs were a starting point in getting the law to be respected and should be installed. The residents said they were aware that the weight limit signs alone would not deter the truck drivers and enforcement might be a challenge but without the signs, there was no starting point.

The residents said it was better to try and take some action rather than just fold their hands and watch standards fall in the suburb.

More residents pointed out the signs project was a worthwhile investment because without the signs they were powerless as they were not backed by the law.

The residents also said if the signs do not deter the truckers carrying bricks from the plant in the Chikurubi Farm area, they will find other ways of protecting their roads.

Mandara residents recently wrote to the City of Harare expressing concern over the increase in the number of heavy trucks using roads in the suburb as a by-pass to get to the brick-making company and to the property along Dudley Edwards Road being used as trucking depot further damaging the already fragile roads in the suburb.

The residents said if the frequency of trucks on roads, particularly Pringle Road, is not checked through the enforcement of weight restrictions, the roads will be completely destroyed.