Tinotenda Hove – Motorists in Harare’s Central Business District (CBD) are enduring unbearable delays as non-functional traffic lights continue to wreak havoc on the city’s already strained road network.

State media reports have confirmed that several major intersections are operating without functioning signals, causing confusion and increasing the risk of accidents—particularly during peak traffic hours in the morning and late afternoon.

“These intersections have essentially become a free-for-all,” said one commuter stuck in the congestion along Julius Nyerere Way. “It’s a miracle there aren’t more accidents. Everyone is just guessing who goes next.”

Among the worst affected areas are intersections along Samora Machel Avenue, Julius Nyerere Way, Jason Moyo Avenue, and Leopold Takawira Street—key arteries in the CBD where traffic lights have either stopped working completely or flicker unreliably.

The situation is not new but is worsening, raising questions about maintenance and accountability. While the city authorities have previously blamed power outages and vandalism for the malfunctions, no concrete action has been taken to address or replace the defective systems.

Urban transport analyst Tawanda Mudzonga said the issue goes beyond inconvenience: “In a capital city, working traffic lights are the bare minimum for road safety and order. What we’re seeing in Harare is a systemic failure in basic urban governance.”

In the absence of traffic lights, some intersections have been left without even traffic officers to manage the flow, further compounding the chaos.

Motorists and pedestrians alike are calling for immediate intervention from both the Harare City Council and the Ministry of Transport.

“We are tired of excuses. If they can’t fix or replace the lights, then they must at least deploy officers to help during peak hours,” said a kombi driver near Charge Office.

As congestion worsens and tempers flare, the city’s traffic crisis has become a symbol of broader infrastructural neglect—and a reminder of how small system failures can spiral into major urban headaches when left unchecked.