Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter
A new 5.4-kilometre section of the vital Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road was officially opened to traffic on Tuesday as rehabilitation works continue.
The newly completed stretch, located at Cross Jotsholo, brings the total length of rehabilitated highway now open to traffic to 37.5 kilometres.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development confirmed the development.
“As of today, 37.5km of the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road has been completed and opened to traffic on the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road Rehabilitation and Widening Project,” said the ministry.
In a detailed progress update issued as of 30 December 2025, the ministry highlighted the contributions of the eight contractors engaged on the project.
According to the update, Bitumen World leads the completed sections with 20.9 kilometres opened to traffic, followed by Fossil Contracting with 6.2 kilometres, Bitumen Resources with the newly opened 5.4-kilometre Jotsholo stretch, and Syvern Investment with 5.0 kilometres.
Contractors Masimba Construction, Tensor Systems, Asphalt Products, and Linash Construction are yet to open completed sections, with the total balance of work remaining standing at 402.9 kilometres.
The 440-kilometre highway, a critical artery linking Zimbabwe’s second-largest city to its premier tourism destination, Victoria Falls, has for years been in a state of disrepair, posing safety risks and hampering economic activity.
The Government-driven rehabilitation and widening project aims to transform the corridor into a modern dual carriageway, significantly improving travel times, road safety and freight logistics.
While the latest opening represents only a fraction of the total distance, it marks a tangible step forward in the ambitious infrastructure programme.
Motorists have welcomed the progress, citing expectations of reduced vehicle wear and tear and improved reliability for travellers to Victoria Falls.
Authorities have, however, urged continued patience as work proceeds on the substantial remaining distance to fully unlock the highway’s potential for national economic growth.
