Understanding the spatial complexity of traffic, land-use and human congestion in the City of Harare using a log-frame evaluation approach

The paper provides intricate details of how the congestion problem could be tackled from a problem analysis point of view using the general log frame analysis approach. In this case the log-frame is being used to measure the impact and effectiveness of a myriad of measures that were taken by the City of Harare to decongest it. It is argued that these measures did not provide enough elbow room for decongestion as they are not an end in themselves. A spatial analysis of the citywide suburbanisation and metropolitan analysis is required to come up with leveraged solutions to congestion problems. The causal effect relationships are traded here to determine how best the congestion problems could be solved. The inter-linkages from problem analysis to solution analysis were shown in this paper. What may be extracted as some solutions to congestion problems may end up being problems again. A problem tree analysis provides the root causal-effect of the problems in a sequential approach. The main aim of the paper is to bring out the main activities that can be done to combat congestion within a framework of suburbanisation to achieve sustainable city development. The objectives include bringing an integrated approach to activities that were done within the Local Development Plan 22 that largely constituted the CBD. By using log-frame, cities can develop a structured approach to decongesting their streets, ensuring that projects are well-planned, implemented and evaluated. The log-frame can be done to show how suburbanisation modelling can be used effectively, since it encourages stakeholder engagement and participation, ensuring that suburban projects are responsive to the needs and concerns of the local communities.