Recent developments along Nemakonde Way (formerly Lomagundi Road) in Harare have left several car sales businesses in disarray as their structures face demolition to facilitate road expansion works. The City of Harare issued a strict 24-hour notice to the car sales owners, mandating them to dismantle their structures and clear the vehicles kept for sale along the roadside.
The road expansion project, aimed at improving connectivity between Harare and the new Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, necessitated the removal of these businesses. City workers returned the following day to initiate the demolition process, starting with fencing and other structures.
Amidst the chaos, car sales owners pleaded for alternative premises to continue their businesses. One dealer, who preferred anonymity, expressed the dire situation faced by the affected businesses.
“We were given a notice to vacate this place to make way for a road,” the dealer lamented. “City workers came and demolished our fences and structures using heavy machinery, and they intend to return to demolish the offices. We have nowhere to go, and we fear we might have to relocate to our rural areas as we’ve not been provided with alternative premises.”
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With uncertainty looming over their future, desperate measures are being taken by the car sales businesses. Some have resorted to selling off steel materials used for fencing at discounted prices, while others are returning vehicles to their owners to prevent them from being destroyed during the demolition.
“We are citizens of Zimbabwe, and we appeal to the government for assistance to survive,” the dealer emphasized. “We hope they will intervene as they witness our plight.”
The plight of these car sales businesses underscores the challenges faced by small enterprises in urban development projects. As the city progresses with infrastructure improvements, it is crucial to ensure the welfare and livelihoods of affected communities are adequately addressed.