TRAVELLER’S AGONY: WELCOME TO MVURWI

By SBT | Road Safety Commentary

Once upon a time, the Harare-Mvurwi road was so smooth that motorists could almost drive with their eyes closed. It was one of those stretches of tar that drivers praised, with no potholes, no sudden ditches, and no burnt tyre marks warning of danger ahead. Those days are gone.

Today, motorists travelling from Harare towards Mvurwi must keep their eyes firmly on the road, not for the usual hazards of traffic, but to survive a journey increasingly resembling an obstacle course. Just before the Mazowe turn-off, a few metres beyond the police roadblock, motorists encounter a badly damaged section of tar that makes passing difficult. The broken surface is so extensive that drivers are forced to negotiate it carefully, often straying towards the opposite lane to avoid the worst of the damage. The trouble does not end there.

A short distance ahead, near the mini-market on the right, another series of potholes and ditches forces motorists into a dangerous game of chess. Drivers must constantly calculate their next move, weighing the risk of hitting a pothole against the danger of swerving into oncoming traffic.

You get a brief reprieve before the next challenge appears near the farm on the right, slightly opposite the old Mazowe Road and a few metres from the railway crossing. And, just as expected, the railway crossing comes with its own collection of road hazards.

Beyond it, the road towards Concession offers little relief. More damaged sections await motorists, including a particularly troublesome pothole near the bend just after the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depot.

By Riverside, the familiar pattern continues. There are more potholes, followed by another damaged section past Riverside, shortly before the bridge leading towards Zanadu Kiosk. Past Zanadu, near the curve, the road deteriorates further, forcing motorists to slow down and carefully navigate the damaged surface to avoid tyre and suspension damage. But perhaps the most frightening section is near Hariana.

There, a large pothole sits almost in the middle of the road, leaving motorists with little room to manoeuvre. Moving left or right is not always an option, particularly when traffic is approaching from the opposite direction. Drivers are left hoping their vehicles can withstand the impact.

The hazards continue towards Mvurwi, with more potholes near the bridge into town and further along the stretch between the cemetery and the hospital. By the time motorists reach Mvurwi, they have negotiated enough obstacles to feel as though they have completed a driving examination.

The deterioration of the Harare-Mvurwi road is more than an inconvenience. Damaged road surfaces increase the risk of accidents, cause vehicle damage and place additional pressure on motorists who rely on the route for business, travel and access to essential services. For public transport operators, commercial drivers and ordinary families, every journey carries the added burden of navigating hazards that should not be part of a normal road trip.

The question is how much longer motorists must endure these conditions before meaningful repairs are undertaken. The Harare-Mvurwi road was once a stretch to be proud of. It should not take a serious accident, damaged vehicles or loss of life to remind those responsible for maintaining it that roads are essential public infrastructure.

Welcome to Mvurwi, where the road that once allowed motorists to drive with their eyes almost closed now demands that they keep them wide open not to admire the scenery, but simply to survive the journey.

Harare-Mvurwi road potholes