Staff Reporter
A massive road rehabilitation project is currently underway on a 200-kilometre stretch of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway, with Government committing funds for the full reconstruction of the highway.
The project is expected to be completed within 36 months and will significantly improve one of Zimbabwe’s most important tourism and trade routes.
The Department of Roads, in partnership with Bitumen World, has already started urgent repairs on the most damaged sections of the highway. Work crews have been deployed in key areas, including Hwange, Halfway, and Insiza, to ensure steady progress.
Providing an update during a media briefing in Harare yesterday, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona outlined the challenges and efforts behind the project.
“Infrastructure rehabilitation is capital-intensive, and globally, the cost of reconstructing a road averagesUS$1 million per kilometre,” said Minister Mhona.
Zimbabwe’s entire road network covers nearly 90,000 kilometres, including rural gravel roads.
Minister Mhona noted that illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe have affected the country’s ability to secure concessional funding for infrastructure development.
“Under normal circumstances, we would seek concessionary financing with flexible repayment terms for such large-scale projects. However, the sanctions have limited access to these funding sources,” he explained.
Despite these obstacles, Government has continued to prioritise road rehabilitation under the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP2), which was launched in 2021 and has now been extended to December 2026 to address ongoing projects and emergency roadworks.
Minister Mhona commended President Mnangagwa’s leadership, highlighting the administration’s commitment to rebuilding Zimbabwe’s road network.
He also praised the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) for its role in funding road projects through toll fees and levies.
“We are making progress by utilising fiscal resources, and ZINARA has played a key role in collecting and channelling funds toward road maintenance and rehabilitation,” said Minister Mhona.
The rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway is expected to enhance safety, reduce travel time, and improve connectivity to one of Zimbabwe’s most critical tourist destinations.
The project forms part of a broader Government initiative to modernise infrastructure and stimulate economic growth, reinforcing Zimbabwe’s commitment to national development and regional integration.
