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Potholes and roads that have outrightly failed to sustain the volumes of traffic have caused a lot of damage to cars, with motori-sts constantly calling for improvements to the infrastructure.
Some motorists have sued the local autho-rity for damage to their cars, and a Supreme Court ruling has opened the door to litigation over pothole-related accidents.
Figures provided to The Herald show the City needs:

• US$16 million for plant and equipment needed for road works.

• US$10 million for spring and chip spraying.

• US$10 million for tarring.

• US$2 million for failed roads.

Failed roads are those that need to be totally stripped and laid afresh while spring and chip spraying is a technique used to add a new layer over existing roads to refurbish them.
The city has the option of hiring the necessary equipment at about US$500 000 for half-a-kilometre of work.
Sector experts say it costs around US$1 per litre of bitumen, which covers about 1,2 square metres.

Motorists, however, say the council can find this money somewhere considering the amount of money the local authority spends on salaries and other staff costs.
Potholes are posing a danger along public roads and residents have responded by suing the Harare City Council.
A survey shows that many roads are pothole-riddled and patching work appears to be the order of the day, though this is not a permanent solution.

Harare motorist Mr Justice Ndongwe said, “Potholes are the major contributor to suspension problems on vehicles in the city.
“Road accidents are rampant and they are mostly as a result of drivers trying to avoid ditches on the roads.
“Tyre punctures are commonplace and all these expenses stem from council’s negligence.”

Mr Simba Moyo, a kombi driver, said fuel consumption is high when the roads are bad.
“Failure by council to maintain roads is costing us and we end up spending more than normally expected when travelling.
“To avoid plunging into potholes, we have to use low gears that cause high fuel consumption.
“Council should immediately address the problem,” said Mr Moyo.

Harare spokesman Mr Leslie Gwindi admitted the city had serious problems in improving the road network.
“We do not have the capacity to work on all the roads at the same time. We do not have resources to undertake the task. We are only managing critical areas,” he said.
One dangerous spot is at the intersection of Francis Way and George Road in Hatfield.
There are deep and wide ditches forcing motorists to pull off the road and use a dusty strip.

At Caledon Shopping Centre along Seke Road, council has placed a notice signaling drivers to slow down.
In the city centre, motorists slow down and share one lane when approaching the intersection of Bank and Chinhoyi streets, where there are three gaping holes.
The state of roads saw the Supreme Court last year ordering Harare City Council to recompense former Stanbic Bank boss Ms Pindie Nyandoro for pothole-related damage to her Mercedes Benz.

The highest court indicated council had an obligation to maintain roads and was responsible for damages arising from not doing so.
The problem is not confined to Harare as motorists in other parts of the country are also fed-up with substandard roads.

In Gweru, the council has been accused of “neglecting city roads to pursue other non-service delivery issues”.
Ms Nyasha Makahamadze said Local Go-vernment, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo should visit Gwe-ru and look at the suburban roads to appreciate residents’ concerns.
“We want him here. We hear everyday that he has said this and that in Harare and Chitungwiza.
“The minister should come here and force these people to work. We are tired of complaining without any action,” she said.

Roads in Mambo, Mtapa, Senga, Ivene, Lundi Park, Southdowns, Southview, Delsford, Nashville and other suburbs are all in urgent need of complete resurfacing.
A visit to garages in Gweru showed that many motorists were taking vehicles for front suspension servicing and tyre repairs.
Town clerk Mr Daniel Matawu said: “We are trying our best. Our only limitation is la-ck of equipment. We are now in the process of acquiring a lorry to carry road repair ma-terial. We will address the problem.”-The Herald