SAMUEL NJINGA IN MASVINGO
The long-awaited rehabilitation of the Harare-Beitbridge highway, a vital artery connecting Zimbabwe’s capital to the southern border, has made significant strides in recent couple of years, with most sections of the road nearing completion. However, as the project continues to progress, there are growing concerns over the delays in certain areas, particularly the Ngundu-Rutenga stretch and key infrastructure like bridges, which have left many motorists frustrated and anxious.
The Harare-Beitbridge highway, spanning over 580 kilometres, has seen a massive facelift in recent years, transforming it into a safer and more efficient route for both cargo and passengers. The road is now much easier to navigate, with smoother surfaces, better signage, and well-maintained drainage systems. One of the most notable achievements has been the transformation of the Mbudzi Roundabout, which is now referred to as the “Trababulous” Roundabout, after a major redesign and expansion that has significantly reduced traffic congestion, particularly during peak hours. This development has been hailed as one of the standout successes of the project, easing the movement of vehicles in and out of Harare.
Despite the successes, there is an increasing outcry from road users and local communities about the areas where work remains unfinished. The Ngundu-Rutenga stretch, one of the most dilapidated sections of the highway, has been singled out as a major concern. This 100-kilometer stretch is still in a poor state, causing significant challenges for motorists who must navigate the patchy road. While the majority of the road has seen vast improvements, this section remains treacherous, with potholes and poor drainage, leaving drivers to contend with uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous driving conditions.
Another troubling stretch is the 1.5-kilometer section near Chaka Business Centre, which continues to be a bottleneck despite the extensive work already completed elsewhere on the highway. Motorists say that while the majority of the journey has become easier and quicker, these remaining problem areas still cause significant delays, especially during peak travel times.
Equally concerning is the delay in the completion of the Mucheke Bridge, which connects motorists in and out of Masvingo from Beitbridge, as well as providing access to local density suburbs. The bridge, which has been under construction for several years, is critical for easing traffic congestion in the region. However, its slow pace of completion has left locals and travelers frustrated, especially as the ongoing construction has limited the flow of traffic in and out of the city. The Ministry of Transport, along with the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA), had earlier provided assurances that the bridge would be completed within a specific timeframe, but it now appears that these promises may not be met.
Similarly, Chimusana Bridge, which was meant to alleviate traffic congestion in Masvingo, has also faced significant delays. The bridge has become a temporary solution for motorists seeking an alternative route, but with both Mucheke and Chimusana bridges still under construction, the situation has become dire for locals who rely on these bridges for their daily commute. The slow pace of construction, coupled with an increase in accidents, has led to public outcry.
The dangers of the unfinished roadworks were brought into sharp focus on Friday, when a tragic accident occurred on the highway, at Mucheke Bridge. Twelve passengers in a Kombi were badly injured when the side boards of a Gonyeti truck came loose and struck the vehicle. The accident led to a city-wide traffic jam as emergency services rushed the victims to Masvingo Provincial Hospital. The incident has reignited fears among motorists who believe that more needs to be done to ensure safety along the highway, particularly in areas where roadworks are still ongoing.
Additionally, the death of a woman who was accidentally run over by a car at Chimusana Bridge on Friday has added to the concerns of local residents. With both bridges under construction and the lack of adequate alternative routes, the public is questioning why these delays continue, especially as the country invests heavily in infrastructure development.
The rehabilitation of the Harare-Beitbridge highway has come at a significant cost. The project, which was allocated a budget of over $200 million, has been split among various contractors. Masimba Construction, Tensor Systems, Fossil Contracting, Exodus and Company, and Bitumen World have all played a role in the rehabilitation, with each company responsible for different stretches of the highway.
Masimba and Fossil have largely delivered on their respective sections, with minimal delays, while Bitumen has focused on the critical sections leading into Harare and Beitbridge. However, Exodus, which is tasked with the Ngundu-Rutenga stretch, has come under scrutiny for its slow pace of work. Industry insiders suggest that the delays may be linked to financial challenges or logistical issues faced by the contractor, including the slow delivery of materials and machinery. Despite these challenges, there is hope that Exodus will be able to complete its section of the road in the coming months, though the timeline remains uncertain.
To assess the progress and identify areas of concern, the Ministry of Transport, in collaboration with ZINARA, once took editors on a tour of the highway to showcase the work done so far. The tour allowed journalists to appreciate the scale of the rehabilitation effort, as well as the progress made in key areas such as the Mbudzi Roundabout as well as the Beitbridge Border Post. However, the delays in the Ngundu-Rutenga stretch and the unfinished bridges remain a point of contention among those who were part of the tour, as they believe more could have been done to expedite the remaining work.
As the rehabilitation of the Harare-Beitbridge highway moves into its final stages, it is clear that the project has made tremendous progress in improving one of Zimbabwe’s most important road links. Yet, there are still critical areas that require urgent attention. The Ngundu-Rutenga stretch and the delay in the completion of key bridges like Mucheke and Chimusana are issues that need to be addressed if the highway is to be fully functional and safe for all motorists.
With ongoing public pressure and growing concerns over the pace of work, the government and contractors must act swiftly to ensure that these final stages of the rehabilitation are completed in a timely and efficient manner. Only then can the Harare-Beitbridge highway live up to its potential as a modern, reliable transport route connecting Zimbabwe’s major cities and providing vital access to regional trade and travel.