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Once upon a time Zimbabwe had beautifully maintained streets. Slowly the potholes started wearing in, and the maintenance crews couldn’t keep up. The reality is, with the petrol shortages, they couldn’t get the fuel for their vehicles to get out to fix the road. Now the joke in Zimbabwe is that if you see a car coming straight down the road, you know that driver’s drunk. Usually it’s a bit of a slolem ride to avoid potholes! Another element of danger or excitement, depending how you choose to view it, is the traffic light situation. Most of the bulbs for the lights have burned out. When approaching an intersection you do so with caution. If you see a green light, go ahead, but know that the traffic in the opposite direction may not see a red light. They may catch a glimpse of a yellow light and know it’s their turn to stop. |
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Pedestian traffic and bicycle traffic is heavy and rather unpredictable, so driving in Zimbabwe isn’t for the newbie or the weak at heart! As seems to be the African way, it all seems to work out and I was surprised not to witness any accidents! One of the "only in Zimbabwe" classics, is seeing government workers using big beautiful brand new tractors to commute on the streets of town. Apparently some foreign country sent in a number of tractors to help with the food shortage crisis, obviously intending that they go to farms. Like much of the aid that enters the country, it didn't make it to the intended hands and now you see people in suits driving at 10mph down the street. I also saw the irony in the police standing on the side of the road with their thumbs out hitching rides. Never a dull moment in Zimbabwe! |
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A traffic light hanging by a wire.
People in the back of a truck.
Driving on the streets of Harare.
