The once tranquil and tight-knit residential community of Ardbennie, located about 10 kilometers south of Harare's central business district, is undergoing a dramatic transformation. The quiet sounds of suburban life are being replaced by the clatter of construction vehicles, the roar of engines, and the clang of metal, as the area slowly morphs into a new industrial zone.
For years, Ardbennie was the epitome of a peaceful medium-density residential area. Neighbors knew one another, children played freely in the streets, and the local tuckshops served as the heart of the community, providing a space for quick chats and shared moments of camaraderie. However, this idyllic life is quickly giving way to the sounds of heavy-duty trucks, warehouse construction, and the establishment of new businesses.
According to NewsDay investigations, companies such as Tashllyt Investments, Zebrakiss Coaches, PetrocoZim, Spring Base, Electrosales Zimbabwe, and other truck-operating firms are setting up shop in close proximity to homes. Some companies, in an effort to maintain privacy, have constructed large warehouses, offices, and tall perimeter walls, often leaving no sign of their presence outside their buildings.
The allure of affordable land, compared to more established industrial zones, has proven irresistible to many growing businesses. Homeowners, enticed by lucrative offers, have sold their properties, resulting in a shift from residential to industrial use. These sales have left long-time residents, like Chipo Mavhunga, heartbroken as they witness their beloved neighborhood being replaced by industrial structures.
"It's heartbreaking," Mavhunga, a resident of Ardbennie for over 20 years, said with emotion, pointing to a newly built Electrosales warehouse. "This was Gogo Dube's home. Her children grew up playing with my brother. They sold it after they went to the UK, and this is when the changes started during COVID-19."
The rapid influx of industrial activity has also strained Ardbennie's infrastructure. Roads that were once maintained for residential traffic are now buckling under the weight of heavy trucks, leading to frequent potholes and damaged streets. Residents, like taxi driver Temba Milo, who has lived in Ardbennie for 15 years, express frustration over the worsening condition of the roads.
"We used to complain about the occasional pothole after the rains," said Milo. "Now, it's like driving in a war zone. These big trucks are destroying our roads. There are about four houses along this street that have been torn down to build factories, but no one is fixing the roads. The factories come in, and we're left to deal with the mess."
The shift from residential to industrial use has also eroded the close-knit sense of community that once defined Ardbennie. The familiar faces are being replaced by unfamiliar vehicles, and the laughter of children is now drowned out by the noise of construction and the hum of factory operations. The community that once thrived on neighborly connections is being replaced by a more impersonal industrial atmosphere.
Ward 23 Councillor Stanley Manasi Manyenga of the Citizens Coalition for Change expressed concern over the trend, highlighting that some residents are selling their properties to businesses for large sums of money. "It's easy for these properties to change use since Ardbennie is near industrial zones like Graniteside. But the residents should come together and communicate their concerns," Manyenga said. "For example, we can discuss road rehabilitation with the new companies and work out a solution for fixing the roads."
The local authorities are aware of the situation, but there has been little progress in addressing the concerns of residents. Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume had not responded to NewsDay's request for comment by the time of publication.
Ardbennie stands at a crossroads, caught between its residential past and the industrial present. Long-time residents are left wondering whether the influx of industry will improve their community or whether they will be left behind in a transformed neighborhood, struggling with poor roads and diminished community ties.
As the concrete continues to pour, the people of Ardbennie watch closely, hoping that progress will not come at the cost of the place they once called home. The future of the neighborhood hangs in the balance, and only time will tell how this transformation will ultimately affect the people who have lived there for generations.
- newsday
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