By Princess Eugene Majuru Princess of Harare
HARARE, ZIMBABWE (News of The South) – The recent “Geza Led M31” stay-away demonstrations, which saw thousands of residents remain in their homes, inadvertently provided a stark and revealing glimpse into the dilapidated state of Harare’s infrastructure. While the protests aimed to highlight political and economic grievances, they also laid bare the city’s urgent need for comprehensive revitalization.
The normally bustling streets of Harare’s central business district (CBD) were eerily empty, offering an unobstructed view of the city’s long-neglected infrastructure. Residents and observers noted the extensive damage to roads, riddled with potholes and crumbling pavements with missing slabs. Piles of soil and uncollected debris lined walkways, painting a picture of urban decay.
“The silence was deafening, but the visuals spoke volumes,” remarked one Harare resident, who wished to remain anonymous. “It’s like the city was holding up a mirror, showing us the extent of the neglect we’ve endured.”
Ironically, the stay-away also revealed a cleaner CBD than usual, suggesting that a concentrated effort was made to clean the streets on the day of the protest. This observation sparked calls for daily cleaning initiatives to maintain the city’s cleanliness.
“It shows that it can be done,” said another resident. “Why can’t our streets be this clean every day?”
The empty streets further highlighted the need for building maintenance, with many structures showing signs of disrepair and requiring repainting.
As Princess of Harare Mbari, a descendant of King Mbari, the former ruler of Harare, I have made the decision to become a vocal advocate for the city’s restoration. “As a descendant of King Mbari, I am deeply concerned about the state of our ancestral land,”. “It is our pride, our heritage, and we must guard it jealously. We must ensure that things work, so we can all enjoy living here.”
I will continue to emphasise the urgent need for road repairs and infrastructure upgrades, calling for immediate action to address the city’s crumbling foundations. The importance of improving waste management should encourage action, I am advocating for the placement of more waste bins throughout the city to curb littering. The creation of more jobs for cleaners to ensure daily street maintenance will also be helpful.
As Princess of Harare I believe charity begins at home, and our home is Harare,” I will continue to assert this. “Let us begin here and restore our city to its former glory.”
The “Geza Led M31” stay-away, while intended to express political discontent, has inadvertently served as a wake-up call, highlighting the dire need for urban renewal in Harare. The city’s residents now hope that this stark visual representation of their city’s decay will spur action from authorities to address the long-standing infrastructure challenges.
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