HARARE: SUNSHINE CITY ONCE UPON A TIME

It has become quite interesting, annoying and frustrating all at the same time, living in Harare. My aunt once said the city has somehow transformed into the cliché African city that you are likely to find Leonardo Dicaprio in for an African scene.

On a normal day, what you will find is unbelievably dirty and crowded streets. I honestly wonder what the City Council is doing if not cleaning and decongesting our streets. Speaking of decongesting our streets, it beats me how at all they could think they are doing just that when all they have managed to do is cause a lot of chaos where kombis are concerned.

Once upon a time walking in town used to be safe. Now it’s dangerous for you might just end up at the morgue because you got hit and run by a kombi being chased by the Council police! What is up with that? We would rather have things be left as they are, until proper infrastructure has been built to accommodate all public transport. Because as it is, the “cops and robbers” scenario is ridiculous!

The interesting aspect comes from what we could call “street entertainment”. If you live in the city and frequent the CBD, down town especially, then you would most probably have seen street preachers and street entertainers as well. The preachers could raise quite a controversial argument. Are they genuine or are they seeking to make a quick buck whilst they appear to be “holy”? It reminds one though, of the ancient Greek preachers and philosophers who would stand in the streets and preach and teach lol. The entertainers vary in artistic discipline. Some are performers and some ‘athletes’, like the biker who usually frequents the spot by corner Speke and Rezende.

Justice would not have been made to the chaos in Harare if we neglected to talk of the street vendors. They are everywhere! The sidewalks seem to have become their permanent places of work. Their merchandise varies from dvds, hair products, stationery, vegetables, articles of clothing... the list is endless!!!

To think Harare was once called the Sunshine City. To say that now, would seem a mockery. If nobody does anything to rectify this, we are never going to recognize our city again!