Potholes have assumed the character of a national disaster, as they continue to widen, turning roads into death traps.

Below is car stuck in a pothole along Samora Machel in Harare

Inevitably, one wag coined this adage: “If you saw Zimbabwean motoristdriving in a zigzag manner, they are not drunk they are merely dodging potholes in the roads.”

A drive around the city centre and other residential areas illustrates the sorry state of the dilapidated roads.

The problem has been excabertated by the end of the lifespan of many tarred roads, especially in the high-density areas, most of them built by the colonialists, cheaply and overcrowded.

They need urgent repair.

“I don’t have a car but I can just imagine the difficulties of driving in our roads. The potholes have become more like wells or fish ponds,” said Marjory Tafireyi of Glen-view.

The effects of hitting a large pothole can be very serious. The car would sustain bent rims, tyres damaged and the suspension ruined.

Innocent Bvunzawabaya, the marketing and public relations assistant manager at Mazda Motors said there had been an increase in the number of cars being brought for repairs to the company.

“There has been a dramatic increase of cars, especially with damaged wheels, and wheel balancing and alignment. One in three of every four cars coming here for repairs are a result of the potholes,” he said.

Replacing a new tyre costs an average $800million, depending on the car.

Repairing a bent rim at the garages ranges from $7 million upwards.

Many motorists complained this was far beyond their reach.

Potholes are not only affecting vehicles, but even pedestrians are at risk.

In high-density suburbs where children are constantly playing in roads, the potholes have become small dams, a dangerous hazard to the kids.

One Kombi driver said if the potholes issue was not addressed immediately, the roads were continuing to deteriorate.

“I think the only decent road left in this city is the one to the State House. Otherwise the whole city is affected,” he said.

Lovemore Madhuku, National Constitutional Assembly chairman, said it was legal for motorists to take the city council to court if their cars were damaged by potholes.

“I have heard people talking of taking the city council to court because of the potholes, and I think this is constitutionally legal,” he said.

Harare police provincial spokesperson Inspector James Sabau, said so far he had received no reports of accidents caused by potholes.

“I don’t have statistics of accidents caused as a result of potholes,” he said.

Drivers of heavy duty trucks are also not spared.

Crispen Tambare, a long- distance truck driver, said though their vehicles were designed operate in any awkward environment, they still sustained damage from potholes.

“The potholes are damaging our tyres and to buy new tyres again and again is expensive,” he said. - The Standard

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