By Princess Eugene Majuru, Princess of Harare
I speak not only as a citizen, but as a daughter of this city—Princess of Harare and sovereign custodian of its heritage and future. What I see in the recent image of the City of Harare road crews is both encouraging and deeply concerning.
In the photograph, workers in high-visibility uniforms are diligently patching a section of damaged road. Wheelbarrows, asphalt, and coordinated effort suggest urgency and commitment. Yet beyond that freshly patched patch lies the undeniable truth: the rest of the road is worn, uneven, and structurally compromised. The repair is precise—but the problem is vast.This is the paradox of Harare today.
A City of Temporary Solutions
For years, our roads have been subjected to what can only be described as emergency, short-term repairs. Potholes are filled, only to reappear within weeks or months. Traffic continues to flow—heavy, unregulated in weight and volume—over surfaces never fully restored. Without proper traffic management and load control, these patches are quickly undone. What we are witnessing in the image is not failure of effort, but failure of strategy.
Patching is not rebuilding.
Patching is not renewal.
Patching is survival.
And Harare deserves more than survival—it deserves restoration.
The Structural Reality
Roads do not deteriorate only at the surface. Beneath the visible potholes lies a deeper issue: weakened road bases, poor drainage, and years of cumulative neglect. When a patch is applied to a failing foundation, it becomes a temporary mask over a growing wound.
This is why these repairs last two months, sometimes less. The cycle repeats, draining resources, exhausting workers, and frustrating residents.
A Royal Appeal for Vision and Action
As Princess of Harare, I must speak with clarity and conviction:
The time for reactive maintenance must end.
I urge the City of Harare to adopt and publicly communicate a comprehensive road rehabilitation plan—one that moves beyond pothole patching toward full road reconstruction.
This plan must include:
Full resurfacing and reconstruction of severely damaged roads, not selective patching
Proper road base rehabilitation, ensuring longevity from the foundation up
Drainage system upgrades to prevent water damage, a key cause of road failure
Strict traffic and load control measures, especially for heavy vehicles
Clear timelines—with visible projects beginning within the next few months
Accountability and Stewardship
Harare is not just a city—it is a living legacy. Its roads are its arteries, carrying commerce, culture, and community. To maintain them poorly is to weaken the very life of the city.
While I commend the visible effort of the workers in the image—their labour is honest and necessary—it must be matched by leadership that thinks beyond the immediate. We cannot continue investing in repairs that are designed, knowingly or unknowingly, to fail.
The Way Forward
Let this moment, captured in that image, serve as a turning point.
Let it remind us that effort without long-term planning is not enough.
Let it push our leaders toward bold, structural decisions.
Let it awaken a commitment to rebuild—not just repair.
As sovereign custodian of Harare, I call upon the City of Harare to rise to this responsibility.
Do not patch our future. Rebuild it.
#CityofHarare #harare The City of Harare #highlight
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