Meanwhile, tensions are also rising between the city council and residents over the rollout of smart water meters. During a meeting organised by the Community Water Alliance, residents criticised the council’s priorities, arguing that authorities should focus first on fixing infrastructure losses. Goodlife Mudzingwa, national coordinator of the alliance, said nearly 60 percent of Harare’s treated water is lost through leaks and ageing infrastructure. Mudzingwa also pointed ou

At several major intersections along Harare’s busiest corridors, Seke Road and Dieppe Road, Chiremba Road and Glenara Avenue, and Robert Mugabe Road and Julius Nyerere Way, a curious scene unfolds almost daily. The traffic lights are fully operational. The signals change as designed. Yet traffic police officers stand in the middle of the junction, whistles sharp against the noise, manually directing vehicles.

Zimbabwean cities should not be forced to choose between vibrancy and functionality. A city can be alive with hustle and still be safe, clean, and accessible. The smell of roasted liver should evoke culture and commerce, not concern. The balance lies in recognising that hustle signals economic life, while order reflects civic maturity. Zimbabwe needs both, and the future of its cities depends on getting that balance right.