By Tendai Guvamombe
As urbanisation continues amid an increasing population growth exerting pressure on existing infrastructure due to an upsurge in migration, traffic control is becoming a burden.
In pursuit of proffering innovative approaches in order to curb traffic jam during peak hours in Harare’s Central Business District, NetOne entered into a partnership deal dubbed ´Safe Cities Partnership’ with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Traffic Section yesterday at Morris Depot.
Unveiling the donation worth thousands of dollars to the ZRP Traffic Section during a hand over ceremony, NetOne Board Chairman James Prince Mutizwa said the mobile telephony service and network giant had an obligation to capacitate the ZRP Traffic Section with equipment through Safe Cities Partnership to enhance traffic control measures in the city.
“It is my priviledged honour to be here today as NetOne unveils its exciting collaboration with ZRP Traffic Section which stems from our commitment to develop communities by playing a pivotal role in assisting the police to perform their duties.”
“The Safe Cities Initiative is a feasible and sustainable partnership that will be implemented with immediate effect and as a nation we continue to encourage support for our public officials to reach the shared goal for Vision 2030 for the country to become an upper middle class economy,” Mr Mutizwa said.
This came at the backdrop of myriad challenges as a result of the large increase of traffic volumes in major cross sections of Harare’s Central Business District (CBD) and other towns, a predicament which is now hindering free flow during peak hours.
“As Zimbabwe continues to develop and progress as a nation, we are witnessing urban sprawl coupled with growth and expansion with migration into the capital resulting in congestion impeding free flow of traffic during peak hours, particularly within the CBD hence the challenge is not that of the police force alone, but calls for corporates to assist.”
Under the Safe Cities Partnership, NetOne donated equipment comprising 4 motorbikes, 250 branded reflective jackets, 213 rain suits, whistles and over $50 000 to capacitate the ZRP Traffic Section.
Phase one of the programme will see 28 intersections under a grid covering Simon Muzenda Road from Kenneth Kaunda Road through to Josiah Tongogara Avenue, Rotten Row, from Cripps to Josiah Tongogara among others.
In a statement, the ZRP Deputy Commissioner General, Learn Ncube, praised the new partnership deal and said it would go a long way in in capacitating the Traffic Section in the ease of duty execution.
“As a law enforcement agency, we are deeply gratified by the benevolent move by NetOne to donate an assortment of traffic equipment to ZRP Cities Partnership worth $65 000.”
“This generous gesture, I am happy to say, enhances ZRP’s capacity to decongest the CBD thus smooth flow of traffic in our roads,” Deputy Commissioner General, Learn Ncube said.