Abstract
Africa is urbanizing at a rapid rate. The rapid rise in population coupled with constrained real economic
growth has created unintended consequences impacting on the economy, social fabric and the
environment. Ironically, as the urban population grows, the provision of services has declined. For
instance, the formal public transport that was dominant in many African cities has disappeared. The
twin factors of increasing population and the dearth of conventional public transport have stimulated
the growth of informal public transport, which has become the major form of public transport in many
countries. Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, exhibits these characteristics which are common in
most cities. Public transport is the preserve of the informal sector. The informal public transport sector
continues to grow and the city’s main urban public space is increasingly more congested; impeding
rather than facilitating the urban population’s ability to access the required social and economic
services. A clear mismatch between the demand for traffic space and its availability is evident. The
need to provide a sustainable urban transport system cannot be overemphasised. Sustainability creates
and maintains conditions under which society can cope and viably support livelihood requirements.
The key stakeholders in Zimbabwe have agreed on the need to craft a sustainable urban transport system
in Harare. Notwithstanding this agreement, there is no indication of addressing the challenges and the
transport system is deteriorating. The paper assesses the impediments to the realisation of a sustainable
urban transport system which is vital for economic growth.